Dialogue Between Salehi and Amano on Nuclear-Powered Ships and the JCPOA

Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), arrived in Tehran on Sunday morning, December 19, and met with Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization. Mr. Salehi announced that during this meeting, the topic of the Iranian President's directive to construct nuclear-powered ships was discussed. According to ISNA news agency, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization criticized the media for publishing information about Iran's additional '100 kilograms' of heavy water. Mr. Salehi added, 'The JCPOA states that we will offer production exceeding about 130 tons for potential foreign buyers. However, they sometimes have their own interpretations, which have been resolved.' He described Mr. Amano's visit to Iran as 'very important,' stating, 'This visit is significant because it allows officials of the country to hear about Iran's conditions for maintaining the JCPOA. We have repeatedly stated that we will not violate the agreement unless the other party does so.' The IAEA had expressed concern in its previous report to the Board of Governors regarding the increase in Iran's heavy water reserves and had requested Tehran to comply with the nuclear agreement. Following that, Iran transferred its surplus heavy water reserves abroad, although 'informed diplomats' say it has not yet been sold. Mr. Amano's visit to Iran comes as Iranian officials consider the U.S. Congress's resolution to extend the Iran sanctions law, known as the D'Amato Law, as a 'violation' of the Vienna nuclear agreement. Meanwhile, the Iranian President has instructed the Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization to implement the measures outlined in the JCPOA to address violations of this international agreement. Hassan Rouhani, on Tuesday, December 15, requested the Atomic Energy Organization to plan for the construction of nuclear-powered ships and their fuel in a letter. Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, stated that this decision by Tehran does not violate the Vienna nuclear agreement. On the same day, Mr. Salehi mentioned that he discussed this matter with the Director General of the IAEA. The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization announced that the fuel used for these ships would be enriched 'from 5 percent to 90 percent,' but Iran would carry out this action within the framework of its 'safeguard' commitments. He added, 'If fuel replacement occurs quickly, the enrichment can be low, and if the replacement occurs over a long period, the enrichment can be high.' Mr. Amano, along with his deputy for safeguards and IAEA officials, is visiting Tehran and will meet with several Iranian officials during his one-day visit. The IAEA had announced prior to Mr. Amano's trip to Tehran that Iran and the agency regularly communicate at high levels, and this visit is in line with those communications. Concurrently with the release of this statement, Ali Akbar Salehi accused the IAEA in an interview with Iranian television of acting 'politically' and stated that 'the heavy shadow of influential countries exists in this agency, especially regarding the JCPOA.' Mr. Salehi mentioned that in the event of a violation of the Vienna nuclear agreement, Iran could 'return in a way that would surprise the other party.'