Criticism of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

Late last month, as part of its monitoring of Iran's nuclear program, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported trace amounts of uranium at 84% enrichment. That's important, because 90% enrichment is required to produce a nuclear weapon.

European powers on Jan. 16 voiced deep concern over Iran's plans to produce uranium metal, warning that Tehran has "no credible civilian use" for the element.

"The production of uranium metal has potentially grave military implications," said the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany in a joint statement.

Iran is now enriching more uranium than Tehran did before it agreed to a nuclear deal with world powers in 2015, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Jan. 16 in a televised speech.

"We are enriching more uranium before the deal was reached ... Pressure has increased on Iran but we continue to progress," Rouhani said.

The U.K., Germany, and France announced on Jan. 14 they would activate the dispute mechanism of the 2015 deal due to Tehran's continuous violations.

The decision of the European participants provokes "deep disappointment and concern," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Iran's president announced on Nov. 5 that Tehran will begin injecting uranium gas into 1,044 centrifuges, the latest step away from its nuclear deal with world powers since President Donald Trump withdrew from the accord over a year ago.

President Hassan Rouhani on Sept. 3 ruled out holding any bilateral talks with the United States and threatened to further cut Iran's commitments to a nuclear deal within days.    

Iran's president lambasted new U.S. sanctions by the Trump administration targeting the country's foreign minister, describing the move Thursday as "childish" and a barrier to diplomacy.

The United States designated Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps a foreign terrorist organization, President Donald Trump said on April 8, marking the first time Washington has formally labeled another country's military a terrorist group.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said US sanctions were "economic terrorism", as he sought to foster a united front from visiting regional officials on Dec. 8.     

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States is monitoring media reports about Iran's plans to build up its nuclear capacity, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

"We're watching reports that Iran plans to increase its enrichment capacity," Pompeo wrote in a Twitter post on Wednesday. "We won't allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran is aware of our resolve."