Amano in Conversation with Le Monde: Iran Has Fulfilled All Its Commitments Except for One Minor Issue

Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated that since the implementation of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), Iran has adhered to all its commitments under the nuclear agreement, except for a minor issue related to the permitted stockpile of heavy water. In an interview published on Saturday with the French newspaper Le Monde, Amano confirmed that the commitments outlined in the JCPOA for Iran have been met 'without any specific problems.' According to a Reuters report, the IAEA Director General also mentioned that the only minor issue since the JCPOA's implementation was a slight increase in Iran's heavy water stockpile in February, which was 'immediately communicated to Iran so that necessary measures could be taken.' Reuters noted that under the agreement with six world powers, Iran is not allowed to have more than 130 tons of heavy water, which is used for reactors like Arak, which Iran is committed to reconstructing. However, based on a confidential document seen by the news agency, nearly a month after the JCPOA's implementation, in February, the agency was informed that Iran's heavy water stockpile was 900 kilograms over the permitted limit. Reuters assessed Amano's current statements as confirmation of its findings in this regard, although quoting him in the interview with Le Monde, he stated, 'Aside from this issue, I can confirm that Tehran has adhered to its commitments and the Iranians are doing what they promised to the international community.' According to a statement last week from Russia's nuclear energy agency, Rosatom, Iran delivered 38 tons of heavy water to Russia last month. Besides Russia, the United States has been seeking to purchase Iran's heavy water since the JCPOA's implementation, despite Congressional opposition to this matter. In late July, it was announced that a transfer of 32 tons of heavy water between Iran and the United States took place at the Sohar port in Oman. Iran announced in May that it had prepared a storage facility in Oman for maintaining and supplying its surplus heavy water and would transfer the amount exceeding the agreed 130 tons of heavy water to this country. In this context, Salehi stated that the incomplete lifting of sanctions could jeopardize the future of the JCPOA. Rouhani expressed grievances about the implementation of the JCPOA by the U.S. over the past eight months. A parliamentary representative stated that the Vienna nuclear agreement has not negatively impacted Iran's heavy water production. Salehi claimed that the West has not fulfilled its commitments under the nuclear agreement. The agency's report on the JCPOA referred to a 'potential problem' in Iran's nuclear program. The Israeli Energy Minister stated that Iran has respected its JCPOA commitments so far.