UK slams Iranian decision to increase uranium enrichment

Britain on Sunday urged Iran to "immediately stop and reverse all activities inconsistent with its obligations", hours after Tehran threatened to breach a landmark international nuclear agreement in 60 days.

"Iran has broken the terms of the JCPOA, following its announcement that it will start uranium enrichment above the 3.67 percent limit agreed in the nuclear deal," the British Foreign Office said, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal struck between Tehran and six world powers.

"While the UK remains fully committed to the deal, Iran must immediately stop and reverse all activities inconsistent with its obligations," it added in a statement.

"We are coordinating with other JCPOA participants regarding the next steps under the terms of the deal."

Iran made the threat earlier on Sunday to breach the pact by starting uranium enrichment above the agreed limit unless a solution with the global signatories can be found in the next two months.

The move comes after the United States quit the deal last year and reimposed and tightened sanctions against the Islamic Republic, urging European allies to follow suit.

China, France, Germany and Russia are the other parties in the deal.

Tensions between the US and Iran reached dangerous levels last month when Iran shot down a US drone which it said had entered its airspace.

The European Union has voiced continued support for the nuclear deal but the US sanctions have severely hampered Iran's vital oil sales and other areas of its economy, stoking renewed tensions.

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