“We don’t support it, and don’t find it helpful at all, for Iran to say it will enrich up to 60%. It’s against the agreement,” Biden said at a press conference at the Rose Garden.
“ We are nonetheless pleased that Iran has continued to agree to participate in discussions, indirect discussions with us and with our partners about how to proceed, and what it takes to enable us to return to the (Iran) deal) so we’re part of it again … without making concessions that we just don’t want to make. Biden added.
Earlier this week, Iran’s deputy foreign minister and a top nuclear energy negotiator, Abbas Araghchi, told State Press TV that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had been informed of Tehran’s decision to close the enrichment. introduce up to 60% purity, a big step up to the current purity levels of 20%.
The decision pushes Iran closer to reaching the 90% enrichment level considered weapon quality. Iran has consistently denied any plans to collect nuclear weapons.
Biden said on Friday that he thinks it is premature to pass judgment on the outcome of the talks, but the countries are still in talks.