IAEA: Iran Observing Nuclear Deal Limits

Iran has continued to implement the main nuclear restrictions set by its 2015 deal with major powers even as the United States reimposed sanctions against Tehran, a UN atomic watchdog report showed on Monday.
Iran has kept its stock of low-enriched uranium as well as the level to which it refines uranium within the limits set by the landmark deal, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency report to IAEA member states, obtained by Reuters.
Several of the main items curbed under the deal were verified shortly before US sanctions were reimposed on Nov. 5 as a follow-up to Washington’s withdrawal from the nuclear accord in May.
A senior diplomat, however, later said there was no sign Iranian behavior had changed since that date.
“There is nothing that indicates that Iranian cooperation or the Iranian attitude has changed since the 5th of November.”
Iran’s reserve of low-enriched uranium remained well below the deal’s 202.8 kg limit at 149.4 kg, the quarterly report by the Vienna-based IAEA showed.
Its stock of heavy water—a less sensitive material that can be used as a moderator in nuclear reactors but is still restricted under the deal—was roughly unchanged at 122.8 tons.
Iran continued production, but 1.7 tons have been shipped abroad while 1.5 tons were used to make medical compounds, the report said.
The restoration of sanctions is part of a wider effort by US President Donald Trump to impose stricter limits on Iran's nuclear program and a halt to its development of ballistic missiles as well as to its support for allies in Middle East conflicts.
Iran has said it will stick with the deal, which lifted most international sanctions, but only if the other signatories—three European powers, Russia and China—make good on pledges to preserve its trade benefits.
Britain, Germany and France have been scrambling to shield companies from the effects of new US sanctions and protect Iranian oil revenues with the aim of saving the hard-earned deal.