China on Monday expressed regret over Iran’s breach of a landmark nuclear deal and blamed the United States for its unilateral hardline policies that reignited the current tensions. 

This file photo taken on January 15, 2011 shows a general view of the water facility at Arak south-west of the Iranian capital Tehran. (Photo by ISNA via Xinhua)

Iran announced on Sunday it would raise the purity of its enriched uranium beyond a concentration of 3.67 percent within a few hours, a limit set in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Iran announced its first breach of stockpiling limits earlier last week.

A complete and effective fulfillment of JCPOA targets is the only workable solution to Iran nuclear issue and cooling down the tense situation, said Geng Shuang, spokesman of Chinese Foreign Ministry. 

In a latest announcement on Monday, Iran confirmed it has exceeded the enrichment limit. Despite a step further walking away from its promises, Iran’s low-enriched uranium purity is well below the level sufficient to build nuclear weapons. 

“We call each relevant party to restrain and to follow the path of dialogue within the JCPOA joint commission, searching for conditions that will keep the pact continue to work,” said Geng. 

Looking back to the source of the resurgence of Iran nuclear crisis, Geng said the maximum pressure placed by Washington should take the blame. 

The US unilaterally pulled out the deal in May last year and tensions accelerated after enforcement of US economic sanctions on Tehran thereafter. Such unilateral moves have set the hurdles higher and higher for Iran to keep delivering its nuclear commitment, said Geng.

Tehran told the remaining signatories, particularly European countries, that it is open to negotiations. However, it warned that it will continue to breach the caps on enrichment and stockpile every 60 days if they fail to live up to their own commitments.