A lawmaker described as positive a recent report issued by the UN nuclear agency as part of its task of monitoring Iran’s compliance with the nuclear deal, but called for a similar mechanism to verify the other side’s adherence to their commitments.
“Iran’s performance is being verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The commitments of P5+1 should also be examined,” a member of Majlis National Security Council and Foreign Policy Commission, Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, also told ICANA on Saturday.
Hosseini was referring to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany, parties to the accord with Iran.
“The agency’s approach to Iran’s implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [the formal title of the accord] is good and positive. This shows that the Islamic Republic as a nuclear technology owner has been able to deepen its relations with this global institution,” he said.
The pact went into full force on January 16 to give Iran sanctions relief in return for curtailing its nuclear program.
Reuters reported on Thursday that a confidential report by the IAEA, which monitors Tehran’s commitments, found Iran in full compliance.
“Throughout the reporting period, Iran had no more than 130 metric tons of heavy water ... Iran’s total enriched uranium [up to 3.67% purity] stockpile did not exceed 300 kg,” the report said, citing the substances in Tehran’s program subject to the deal’s limits.
Iran has also given fresh documents to the IAEA, it said, to move toward further normalization of its status under the so-called Additional Protocol, the agency’s monitoring procedure that all member states are supposed to adhere to.
New Obstacles
“The Americans are creating new obstacles, both formally through legislation in Congress and informally through anti-Iran lobbying, to prevent it from reaping the benefits of the pact,” Hosseini said.
Tehran is increasingly exasperated that few trade deals are going through with international investors and firms, as foreign banks shy away from processing transactions with the country on fears of falling foul of residual US restrictions.
Lingering US sanctions, imposed over non-nuclear allegations like terrorism sponsorship and human rights violations, include a ban on the use of dollar in Iran-linked transactions and their clearance through the US financial system.
Adding to complications, US Republican lawmakers, who control the House of Representatives and Senate and unanimously oppose the JCPOA, have introduced frequent anti-Iran measures to interfere with the deal’s implementation.
