UN chief urges Iran to stick to nuclear deal

The U.N. says Secretary-General Antonio Guterres believes Iran's uranium enrichment above the limit set in the 2015 nuclear accord, if confirmed, would neither help preserve the agreement "nor secure tangible economic benefits for the Iranian people."

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Monday that the secretary-general encourages Iran to continue implementing all its nuclear commitments under the deal "as the participants continue to seek ways to overcome the considerable challenges the country faces."

The International Atomic Energy Agency said its inspectors verified Monday "that Iran is enriching uranium above 3.67%," the limit allowed under the 2015 agreement.

Iran had announced the move in recent days in a bid to pressure European powers to shore up the nuclear accord following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the agreement last year.