PARIS, July 7 (Xinhua) -- France on Sunday said it took note "with great concern" of Iran's announcement that it would boost nuclear enrichment above agreed parameters, urging further diplomatic moves to abate tension.
"We strongly urge Iran to stop all activities that are not consistent with its JCPOA (2015 nuclear deal) commitments," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Agnes von der Muhll said.
"France is in close contact with the concerned partners to initiate the necessary de-escalation of tensions...," she added in a press release.
Von der Muhll noted that France was awaiting for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to confirm Tehran plan to enrich uranium above the agreed limit of 3.67 percent.
Earlier this week, Iran said it had stepped up the production of low-grade enriched uranium and had exceeded 300 kg in its stockpile, more than the amount permitted under the accord.
The nuclear agreement was inked by Iran with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States under the Obama presidency in 2015, under which Tehran curbed its uranium enrichment capacity, to win sanctions relief in return.
But President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal in May last year and reimposed sanctions on Iran ordering all countries to halt imports of the country's oil or face sanctions of their own.
In response to Washington's move, Tehran in early May said it would no longer respect levels of agreed enriched uranium.
The Islamic Republic had also set a 60-day deadline for the Europeans to help it reap the economic benefits of the deal.
