This archive report was first published on 6 July 2019.
Iran has begun implementing its threat to suspend parts of the 2015 nuclear agreement, citing the US's reimposition of sanctions after withdrawing from the deal in May 2018.
The accord, signed by Iran and six world powers, capped Iran's uranium enrichment at 3.67 percent, a level sufficient for power generation but far below the 90 percent required for a nuclear weapon.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's international affairs advisor, Ali Akbar Velayati, stated in an interview published on the leader's official website on Friday that uranium enrichment would increase to meet Iran's peaceful activities.
"For Bushehr nuclear reactor we need five percent enrichment and it is a completely peaceful goal," Velayati added, referring to Iran's only nuclear power station, which is currently running on imported fuel from Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his "strong concern over the risk of weakening the nuclear agreement" in a telephone conversation with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday, warning of the consequences that would follow.
Macron announced that he would consult with international partners to resume talks involving all parties to bring about the necessary de-escalation of the situation.
Iran's move comes in response to what it deems a failure by the remaining parties to the deal to provide relief from US sanctions.
