Iran Press/ Iran News: The Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, said in a television program on Monday evening: "This whole process has taken place after initial measures such as informing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and submitting a design questionnaire based on Iran's safeguard obligations."
"The Europeans have shown their inability to commit to Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and have not been able to guarantee that Iran will benefit from JCPOA," Araghchi said, "If the other parties can live up to their commitments, we will reconsider."
Regarding the reactions to the 20 percent enrichment, including a statement by an EU spokesman who said that Iran's move was a significant deviation from JCPOA, Araghchi said: "Europeans who consider themselves the cradle of democracy have no right to challenge the implementation of the Iranian parliamentary law."
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, stating that the resumption of 20 percent enrichment is based on both the Non-Proliferation treaty (NPT) and the Safeguards Agreement and the legal framework, added: "At the moment, we do not need to enrich more than 20 percent; If the need arises, a decision can be made again."
Regarding the reaction of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the resumption of 20% enrichment and that Iran's action is to develop the military nuclear industry, Araghchi said: "A regime that itself has nuclear weapons can not accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons."
Emphasizing that the policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in rejecting nuclear weapons has not changed yet, Araghchi added: "Nuclear weapons have no place in Iran's religious beliefs and in Iran's defense and security calculations."
Iran's government spokesman announced on Monday the start of the 20 percent enriched uranium production process at the Fordow site south of Tehran.
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