Gov’t Report to Majlis Highlights JCPOA Benefits

Iran's Foreign Ministry highlighted the gains of the 2015 nuclear accord in its fifth quarterly report to a parliamentary panel on Saturday, as required under the law adopted by the parliament while endorsing the historic deal.

The panel, called Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, in turn reports to the legislature biannually.

Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the agreement is officially known, international sanctions against Iran were eased in return for temporary constraints on its nuclear program.

The report organized the latest developments surrounding the pact under three headings: nuclear activities, sanctions relief, and obstacles and challenges.

It cited the initiation of the process of injecting uranium gas into the latest generation of Iran's enrichment centrifuges, IR-8, early this year as one of the positive steps taken since the action plan became effective in January 2016, IRNA said.

UF6 injection marked a milestone in Iran's nuclear research and development.

Heavy water production, exploration program for natural uranium reserves, Arak modernization project and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency that monitors Iran's compliance with the deal are proceeding smoothly, the report said.

Curbs on Tehran's nuclear work included reducing the number of centrifuges installed at Fordo and Natanz enrichment sites, cutting the enriched uranium stockpile below 300 kg and the fissile purity to 3.67%, and redesigning the Arak heavy water reactor.

The exploration for the rare material is regarded as a strategic plan of Iran's nuclear industry to meet its domestic need.

Iran is allowed to use heavy water in its modified Arak nuclear reactor, but should sell any excess of both heavy water and enriched uranium on the international market.

It is also authorized to purchase natural uranium or yellowcake in return.    

Sanctions had targeted key sectors of the Iranian economy, including banking, oil and transport.

The report said thanks to JCPOA, the national banking sector has managed to restore links with the financial global system and successfully emerged from its "critical situation" during the sanctions period.

According to the report, sanctions on the oil sector have been completely removed and it is facing no major problem concerning production, export and access to oil revenues.

However, the Foreign Ministry admitted that the deal's benefits have been slow to arrive due to the lingering non-nuclear US sanctions, the hostile stance of the new US administration as highlighted in its recent move to extend the list of sanctioned people and entities over their alleged links with Iran's missile program and other problems.