President Hassan Rouhani says the government will stick to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution's directives on the implementation of the July 14 nuclear accord with major powers.
In a Thursday letter to Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the president thanked the Leader for his guidelines and support for the nuclear negotiators and said, "The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, by observing Your Excellency's considerations and requirements as well as the enactments of the Supreme National Security Council and the Majlis, will move to fully enforce the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [the official title of the nuclear pact] in good faith."
Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) reached a historic agreement to resolve the 12-year dispute over Tehran's nuclear program in Vienna on July 14. The accord places time-bound constraints on Iran's nuclear work in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.
In a letter to President Rouhani on Wednesday, the Leader had stressed that Iran's action to comply with agreed measures under the nuclear deal hinges on the conclusion of the UN nuclear agency's consideration of Tehran's nuclear past.
Iran is required to complete certain nuclear-related measures under the JCPOA so it can get relief from international sanctions.
Removal of sanctions is subject to approval by the International Atomic Energy Agency that Tehran has met all its commitments.
Iran and the IAEA signed a roadmap agreement aimed at addressing outstanding issues regarding what the agency calls Possible Military Dimensions of Tehran's nuclear program and closing the case by mid-Dec.
Tehran denies the allegation that its program may have been aimed at developing a nuclear bomb, insisting that the work is exclusively for civilian purposes.
Ayatollah Khamenei raised some points to be considered by the government while implementing the pact.
Among the measures Iran has agreed to undertake are cutting its stockpile of low enriched uranium by either trading it for or converting it to raw uranium and modernizing the Arak heavy water reactor.
The Leader said Iran will not go ahead with measures to redesign the Arak reactor and swap enriched uranium for natural uranium until the IAEA announces the closure of Iran's PMD case.
***Close Monitoring
In his letter, Rouhani said, "The implementation of the other side's commitments will be closely monitored and the required decisions on how to respond to [measures by the international parties] will be made by the Supreme National Security Council."
He expressed confidence that the enforcement of the JCPOA and "the consequent positive atmosphere" will boost the Islamic Republic's power, serve the interests of the people and facilitate the country's progress.
