Iran in compliance with nuclear deal restrictions: IAEA

nuclear deal
According to a confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has remained within the main restriction of the 2015 nuclear deal, staying within caps on uranium enrichment levels, enriched uranium stocks and other provisions.  Reuters photo by Heinz-Peter Bader

According to a confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has remained in compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, staying within caps on uranium enrichment levels, enriched uranium stocks and other provisions.  Reuters photo by Heinz-Peter Bader

Trump imposed sanctions on Iranian crude despite Tehran’s compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal

Iran has complied with the main restrictions on its nuclear activities outlined in the 2015 nuclear deal agreed to by Tehran as well as the US, the UK, Russia, France, and China, Germany and the European Union.

Reuters reports that a confidential report by the International Atomic Energy agency, a UN atomic watchdog, showed Iran is meeting its requirements.

According to the agency’s second quarterly report issued since US President Trump announced in May that the US would abandon the pact and re-impose crippling sanctions, Iran has complied with caps on uranium enrichment levels, enriched uranium and other provisions of the deal.

In the last report issued in May, the IAEA said Tehran could improve its cooperation with inspectors which would “enhance confidence”, but did not say Iran had given it cause for concern.

Reuters reports Thursday’s report issued to member states contained similar language and reported that the watchdog group was able to carry out its inspections needed to verify Tehran was complying with the agreement.

“Timely and proactive cooperation by Iran in providing such access facilitates implementation of the Additional Protocol and enhances confidence,” said the report.

“The production rate (of enriched uranium) is constant. There is no change whatsoever,” a senior diplomat added.

In the wake of the Trump administration’s decision to quit the deal and reimpose crippling sanctions, a number of diplomats and analysts do not believe the pact will remain in place, despite EU efforts to counter some of the fallout from the US move.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told his fellow ministers, who are meeting in Vienna to discuss EU policy on Iran, to do more to protect Iran from US sanctions.  He called for “permanent financial mechanisms that allow Iran to continue to trade”.

Earlier this month, the EU enacted a law that shielded European companies from the impact of US sanctions on Iran and approved aid for the Iranian private sector.  Despite these actions, large European firms are pulling out of Iran.

Reuters reports that on Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he doubted the EU country’s ability to save the agreement.  He added that Tehran may abandon it.

Khamenei reportedly told Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani to not rely too much on European support.  The president has come under increased pressure of his handling of the economy in the wake of the Trump decision and key ministers are now under attack by parliament.

Le Drian argues that Iran should be prepared to negotiate on its future nuclear plans, its ballistic missile arsenal as well as its role in Syria and Yemen wars.

The French minister said Tehran was arming regional allies with rockets and allowing “ballistic proliferation”.  He cautioned that “Iran needs to avoid the temptation to be the (regional) hegemon.”

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