The United States, Great Britain, Germany and France issued a joint statement on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on Iran's nuclear program.

APA reports that this was reported on the website of the US State Department.

The joint statement noted that the governments of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States have taken into account the report of the AEA that Iran has substantially changed the configuration of some of its centrifuges without prior notification to the Agency.

These centrifuges produce highly enriched uranium up to 60 percent and are located at the Fordo Enrichment Plant.

It was noted that, as AEBA also stated, this unannounced change does not comply with Iran's obligations arising from the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.

Failure to meet the required commitments also negatively impacts the Agency's ability to continue timely detection of Iran's nuclear facilities, the joint statement said.

The four countries call on Iran to comply with its obligations: "Iran's claims that this step was taken in error are inadequate. We judge Iran's actions based on the unbiased and objective reports of the AEBA, not on its alleged intentions.

We remind you that Iran's production of highly enriched uranium at the Fordo Enrichment Plant carries significant risks and lacks justification for civilian use.

Iran's actions are now even more worrisome because Tehran has suspended its transparency and verification obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, including its additional protocol, for nearly two years.

Iran has also yet to provide any credible answers to the questions raised by the AEBA as part of its investigation into its safeguards, despite the Board passing two resolutions on the matter last year.