This archive report was first published on 1 July 2019.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif confirmed on July 1, 2019, that Iran had exceeded the 300-kilogramme limit on its enriched uranium reserves set under the 2015 nuclear deal.
The announcement came after Iran had set out its intentions in May to no longer respect the limit set on its enriched uranium and heavy water stockpiles.
Iran had threatened to abandon more nuclear commitments unless the remaining partners – Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia – helped it to circumvent sanctions, especially to sell its oil.
However, the European Union's efforts to salvage the deal through the INSTEX payment mechanism were deemed insufficient by Zarif.
INSTEX was finally operational, with the first transactions being processed, but Zarif stated that 'the Europeans' efforts were not enough, therefore Iran will go ahead with its announced measures.'
