PARIS, June 6 (Xinhua) -- French Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian warned Iran on Wednesday that its plan to increase uranium enrichment capacity in the case of the collapse of the nuclear deal with world powers would have dangerous consequences.
Earlier this week, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei ordered preparations to raise uranium enrichment capacity if the 2015 nuclear agreement dissolves, after the United States pulled out from the deal last month.
"This initiative is unwelcome. It shows a sort of irritation. It is always dangerous to flirt with red lines," Le Drian said.
"If they go to a higher level then, yes, the agreement would be violated, but they need to realize that if they do then they will expose themselves to new sanctions and the Europeans will not remain passive," he warned.
In an interview with local broadcaster Europe 1, Le Drian called for a "global negotiation framework" on the Iranian issue, at the same time maintaining the 2015 nuclear deal, which he called "a step forward" in preventing Iran from having access to nuclear weapons.
"The Iranians must realize that if they break the agreement then they expose themselves to new sanctions. But, today the agreement is not broken and Iran fully respects its commitments," he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), claiming it did not address Iran's ballistic missile program, its nuclear activities beyond 2025, or its role in conflicts in Yemen and Syria.
In response to Washington's decision, Tehran has threatened that in the event that other parties to the nuclear deal could not safeguard Iran's interests under the accord, Iran will move out of it and resume its nuclear activities at full speed.
The 2015 deal eased sanctions on Iran in exchange for Tehran limiting its nuclear program.
