July 9, 2021: A Saudi Foreign Ministry official has said that Iran’s escalation of nuclear activities poses a threat to regional security after it began production of enriched uranium ore.
On Tuesday, the US nuclear watchdog said Iran had begun a process of enrichment, a move that could help it develop nuclear weapons, and was criticized by the United States and European powers. Iran says its measures are aimed at developing fuel for research reactors, not nuclear weapons.
Washington and its European allies saw the move as a threat to talks on resuming the 2015 agreement that imposed sanctions on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for lifting international sanctions. In response to the Saudi official’s request for comment, the Saudi official said, “Riyadh is very concerned about the growing speed of Iran’s nuclear activities and the development of its capabilities … which are not in line with peaceful goals.”
The official said they were “an obstacle to efforts to reach a comprehensive nuclear deal that would ensure global and regional security and stability.” The world powers have been in talks with Tehran since early April to restore the 2015 agreement. Washington withdrew from the deal three years ago, and Iran has responded by slowly violating its sanctions.
The official said Iran’s moves to produce uranium enriched to 60% fissile purity and uranium metal to 20% “represent an increasing threat” to regional security and non-proliferation of weapons.
Riyadh and Tehran, which severed ties in 2016, launched direct talks in April aimed at containing tensions.
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