Differences of opinion on the way to react against Iran following the report that it has enriched uranium in an amount almost sufficient for a nuclear bomb. Washington is reluctant to publicly criticize Iran, Europe supports the criticism
Differences of opinion between the US and its European allies regarding the response to Iran’s uranium production that has reached a near-nuclear bomb level. While Britain, France and Germany prefer to publicly condemn Tehran, the Biden administration is reluctant to do so, according to the diplomats involved who spoke to The Wall Street Journal’.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said this week that Iran has produced about 84% enriched uranium particles in recent weeks, just 6 percent short of the 90% needed for bomb-grade nuclear fuel.
The IAEA said discussions with Tehran about what happened were ongoing and officials close to the agency said they could not say for sure whether Iran’s production was accidental or deliberate. Tehran says the production of 84% of the enriched uranium was unintentional.
Britain, France and Germany wanted to formally criticize Iran at a meeting of the IAEA’s board of governors next week by passing a resolution calling for an end to Iran’s nuclear activities, diplomats said.
The board can refer the issue to the UN Security Council, but has not done so on previous occasions when Iran has come under criticism. However, US officials are against public criticism even though no final decision has yet been made. Washington wants to see what the agency concludes about the production of the material. The Director General of the IAEA, Raphael Grossi, traveled to Tehran yesterday (Thursday).
At a press briefing Wednesday, State Department spokesman Ned Price said Washington “will continue to consult very closely with our partners to do what we believe will be most effective” to address Iran’s nuclear challenge ahead of the IAEA board meeting.