The International Atomic Energy Agency, which oversees the implementation of the multi-sided Iran nuclear accord, reiterated its confirmation of Tehran's compliance with the deal terms.
"The IAEA continued to verify and monitor the implementation by Iran of its nuclear-related commitments under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [the formal title of the pact]," the UN nuclear watchdog said in a report published on its website on Friday, highlighting the agency's achievements in 2017.
Findings by IAEA's inspectors since the action plan took effect in January 2016 have attested to Tehran's full compliance, a point underscored by the report.
"In his quarterly reports to the IAEA Board of Governors, [Director General Yukiya] Amano confirmed that the nuclear commitments undertaken by Iran were being implemented. IAEA inspectors have continued to inspect facilities in Iran, have taken hundreds of environmental samples, and carried out activities supported by state-of-the-art technology, including data collecting and processing systems."
Under the UN-endorsed agreement with major powers, Tehran agreed to roll back its nuclear development in return for relief from international sanctions.
The report by the Vienna-based agency came two and a half months after US President Donald Trump decertified Tehran in a controversial announcement.
Another Pushback
The report represented another pushback against Trump, who has been pressing the nuclear watchdog to seek access to Iran's military sites for inspection and has accused the agency of failing to use its full authority in monitoring Tehran's nuclear activities.
Iranian officials have ruled out any foreign visits to military facilities, citing national security concerns.
Trump has also demanded the international deal, reached under his predecessor Barack Obama, be revised to accommodate his concerns over Tehran's missile and regional activities.
Iran argues that all the participants in the multi-party nuclear negotiations agreed that the terms of the accord would not cover issues beyond the nuclear issue and that its missile activities are purely defensive and legitimate.
His decertification move, at odds with the commitment of other parties to the deal, meant the US Congress would have to decide by mid-December whether to reinstate Iran sanctions.
But congress did nothing and let the deadline slip, punting the ball back in Trump's court.
He faces deadlines as of Jan. 11 to certify whether Tehran is meeting its JCPOA obligations, as is required every 90 days by US law.
Other deadlines are also looming for Trump to decide whether to renew temporary waivers of US sanctions on Iran, a choice he must make every 120 days.
Multiple such decisions are due between Jan. 12 and Jan. 17.
Trump's refusal to extend the waivers or certify Tehran could, in effect, kill the hard-earned deal.
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