US Threatens Iran with "Maximum Pressure"
The United States has once again warned Iran about the consequences of its nuclear program and announced its intention to continue "maximum pressure" on Tehran to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons. This move is part of ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at halting the expansion of Iran's nuclear program, which has raised concerns in the international community.
Escalation of Iran's Nuclear Program
According to official data from the US mission to the UN, Tehran continues to rapidly increase the production of highly enriched uranium, which has caused serious concerns on the international stage. The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran has increased its production of uranium enriched to 60%, far exceeding civilian needs. As highlighted by the US representative, Iran is the only country without nuclear weapons that continues to produce uranium of this enrichment level without stating peaceful intentions.
The situation has attracted global attention as Tehran increasingly deviates from the terms of international agreements, including the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed in 2015, under which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. However, after the US withdrew from the agreement in 2018 under President Donald Trump, and Iran subsequently refused to fulfill its commitments, tensions in the region have escalated.
"Maximum Pressure" from the US
The US has reiterated its intention to continue its "maximum pressure" policy on Iran. In response to Tehran's actions, Washington has proposed new measures aimed at "preventing" Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The US mission to the UN emphasized that Tehran continues to ignore the UN Security Council's demands, which exacerbates the crisis in nuclear control.
Washington also declared its readiness to increase pressure on Iran if Tehran continues to accelerate its nuclear process. The US accused Iran of disregarding international norms and security standards, creating additional threats to the world order. America stressed that the international community must respond to these actions with strong measures to prevent Iran from reaching a critical point in developing nuclear weapons.
In response to these threats and accusations, Iran continues to deny the military goals of its program. Iranian authorities assert that their nuclear program is purely peaceful, and that they continue to work within the framework of international commitments. However, many experts point out that actions such as enriching uranium to 60% contradict the principles of peaceful nuclear energy.
State of Negotiations and International Pressure
Amid the growing tension over Iran's nuclear program, the US, UK, and France initiated a closed meeting of the UN Security Council. The session was dedicated to discussing the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program. The UK presented data indicating that Iran has already produced 275 kg of uranium enriched to 60%, far exceeding the amount needed for civilian use.
Deputy UK Ambassador to the UN James Kariuki stressed that this amount of uranium exceeds all requirements for peaceful nuclear programs. He noted that Iran continues to refuse to fulfill its commitments under the JCPOA, and the situation in the Middle East could spiral out of control if serious steps are not taken to limit Iran's nuclear program.
China and Russia: Diplomatic Solution
However, China and Russia expressed concern over the application of pressure and preferred to seek a diplomatic solution. Beijing and Moscow refused to support the closed UN Security Council meeting and stated that the responsibility for the collapse of the nuclear deal lies with the Trump administration, which withdrew from the JCPOA in 2017. Chinese Ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, pointed to the negative impact of Washington's decisions on regional stability, stating that the US's withdrawal from the agreement was catastrophic for international security.
China continues to seek a diplomatic solution, aiming to ease international tension surrounding Iran's nuclear program. On Friday, March 15, China will hold important talks with Iran and Russia to discuss ways to stabilize the situation in the region and restore the nuclear deal. The talks will involve China's First Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, and Iranian diplomat Kazem Garibabadi.
The parties plan to discuss how to bring Iran back to fulfilling the JCPOA conditions and how to stabilize the situation in the Persian Gulf. China is actively promoting ideas for resuming negotiations and returning to a multilateral agreement that will include not only Iran but also other key international players, including the US, UK, and France.
The Future of Iran's Nuclear Program
All these diplomatic efforts demonstrate that the situation surrounding Iran's nuclear program remains one of the hottest topics in international politics. The US, UK, and France are working to intensify pressure on Iran to prevent its nuclear threat, while China and Russia are actively working towards creating conditions for a diplomatic solution. Meanwhile, Tehran continues to assert that its nuclear program is peaceful and that it will continue its efforts to develop technology.
It is important to note that any further steps taken by the world powers will depend on how Iran responds to these international demands and how willing it is to cooperate on controlling its nuclear program. In the coming months, it will become clear whether significant progress can be made in these complex and sensitive negotiations.
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