European Union Ready to Lift Sanctions on Iran Following Agency Confirmation

The European Union is prepared to lift economic and financial sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program as soon as the Agency confirms Tehran's compliance with the Vienna nuclear agreement. In this regard, European countries have prepared a detailed directive that is currently in the hands of the Netherlands, the current presidency of the EU. Diplomatic sources told AFP on Friday, January 25, that all necessary preparations are in place for the 28 EU countries, along with the United States and the United Nations, to end their sanctions against Iran in accordance with what was agreed in Vienna on the 'Implementation Day' of the JCPOA. The EU extended the suspension of Iran's sanctions for another two weeks on Thursday night, but simultaneously stated in its announcement that as soon as the Agency confirms Iran's compliance, the EU's sanctions against Tehran will be lifted. The International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to officially confirm Tehran's compliance with its commitments within hours or at most in the next couple of days, after which a joint statement by Mohammad Javad Zarif and Federica Mogherini will officially announce what is referred to in the nuclear agreement as the 'Implementation Day.' A diplomatic source told AFP that the EU is ready to lift sanctions as soon as the Agency's report is published. Another source indicated that the 28 EU member states have prepared a precise directive regarding the lifting of sanctions, which is currently with the Netherlands for finalization. The EU and the US had previously issued directives regarding the lifting of sanctions in November. The Netherlands has held the rotating presidency of the EU since the beginning of January, two weeks ago. In recent weeks, Iran has sent the majority of its enriched uranium stockpile, including all of its 20% enriched uranium, to Russia, in accordance with its commitments under the nuclear agreement, and on Thursday announced that it had filled the core of the Arak heavy water reactor with cement. Both of these key actions have been confirmed by the US and welcomed by other members of the P5+1. Meanwhile, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported on Friday from Geneva, citing a UN source, that the European office of the United Nations in Geneva is preparing to host delegations from Iran and the six world powers in the coming hours or days. This diplomatic source told RIA Novosti that the US delegation has asked the UN office to be ready to host the delegations from noon on Friday, January 25, Central European Time. RIA Novosti also reported on its Russian website the possibility of a meeting on Saturday between John Kerry, Mohammad Javad Zarif, and Federica Mogherini, although some sources have indicated that the meeting location is Vienna. Mr. Kerry, who met with the Saudi Foreign Minister in London on Thursday, is also expected to meet with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Zurich in the coming days regarding the Syrian peace process. The sanctions imposed by the EU, the United States, and the United Nations against Iran, which are set to be lifted simultaneously with the 'Implementation Day' of the JCPOA, have inflicted heavy damages on Iran's economy, including the freezing of billions of dollars of Tehran's assets abroad and severe restrictions on economic and technological investments in Iran. Meanwhile, according to the head of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, during a meeting on Tuesday with the Deputy Foreign Minister, it was announced that since the nuclear agreement, 150 economic delegations have visited Iran, resulting in the signing of 80 cooperation agreements that can be finalized with the implementation of the JCPOA. Mohsen Jalalpour stated in this meeting that the private sector in Iran is ready to open 1,000 credit lines known as LC in cooperation with the banking system from the day after the 'Implementation Day.' In recent years, due to sanctions, banking transactions have been limited, and opening credit lines has been difficult. In this context, Iranian oil tankers are on standby to move to India and Europe. Kamalvandi: The holes in the central section of the Arak reactor have been filled with cement. The EU has extended the suspension of Iran's sanctions. The House of Representatives has suspended its resolution regarding closer oversight of the JCPOA. John Kerry: Iran has informed the US that the core of the Arak reactor has been removed. Araqchi: A joint statement on the implementation of the JCPOA will be issued next week. The removal of the core of the Arak reactor will be completed in 'one or two days.' The Atomic Energy Organization: The removal of the core of the Arak reactor has not yet been completed. Mogherini: No timeline has been set for lifting Iran's sanctions. Larijani: The JCPOA cannot be stopped because of one US violation. Iran announced an agreement with the P5+1 regarding issues related to the lifting of sanctions. A technical meeting between Iran and the P5+1 group is being held in Geneva to implement the JCPOA.