The European Union Urges Iran to Abandon Threats to Change Its Nuclear Doctrine

The European Union has urged the Islamic Republic of Iran to abandon its threat to reconsider its nuclear doctrine. Peter Stano, the EU spokesperson, stated in a written interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Thursday, May 17, that "we continue to ask Iran to reverse its nuclear course and take concrete steps such as improving immediate cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency." Iran has always claimed that its nuclear program is purely civilian in nature, but Kamal Kharrazi, an advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, warned last week that "if Iran's existence is threatened, it may reconsider its nuclear doctrine." Iran and six world powers signed an agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in July 2015, which limited the dimensions of Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. Following the withdrawal of Donald Trump's administration from this agreement in May 2018 and the reinstatement of sanctions, Iran intensified its uranium enrichment and stockpiling of nuclear materials and restricted the access of IAEA inspectors to its nuclear facilities. In response to Kharrazi's threat, the U.S. stated that Iran will never achieve nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, the Biden administration in the U.S. and the European Union have repeatedly called for Iran to return to its nuclear commitments and expressed their willingness to revive this agreement. Peter Stano, in another part of his interview, mentioned that Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, and his team continue efforts to revive the JCPOA, stating, "Our goal has always been to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons through diplomatic means." He added that in this highly tense regional situation, it is essential to show maximum restraint. The EU spokesperson noted, "Further escalation of tensions in the region, even in the form of comments regarding the nuclear program, does not benefit anyone, even if it does not reflect the official position of the country." Kharrazi, head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations and a senior advisor to Ali Khamenei, threatened in an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic, which Iranian media published on May 9, that "we have the capacity to produce a bomb" and if Iran's existence is threatened, "we will have to change our nuclear doctrine." He made these remarks in response to the potential targeting of Iran's nuclear facilities by Israel, stating, "If they want to strike Iran's nuclear capabilities, it could naturally lead to a change in Iran's nuclear doctrine." The U.S. called these remarks "irresponsible," with Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, stating, "As the President and Secretary of State have made clear, the United States will ensure that Iran never obtains nuclear weapons by any means." The threat of a potential change in Iran's nuclear doctrine comes at a time when Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the IAEA, warned earlier this month that Iran is only weeks away from having enough enriched uranium to produce a nuclear bomb.