Iraqchi Warns 5+1 Group: Either PMD or Implementation of JCPOA

Abbas Araghchi, Iran's senior coordinator for the implementation of the nuclear agreement, warned the 5+1 group on Wednesday night that if there is an obstacle in closing the file on the potential military dimensions (PMD) of Iran's nuclear activities, the implementation of the JCPOA, or the nuclear agreement, will be halted and "Iran will resume its nuclear activities." According to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran stated during a program on Iranian state television that "If a window remains open in the PMD file, it means that this issue can be raised in the future, which means that the JCPOA will be halted and we will resume our nuclear activities." Mr. Araghchi reminded that changes in Arak and the sale of uranium are contingent upon the closure of the PMD issue by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and if this file remains open, "the process of implementing the JCPOA will be halted. Therefore, the 5+1 must choose between PMD and the JCPOA." The Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran also expressed hope for a positive trend in the drafting of the IAEA report, adding that Iran "has never negotiated based on optimism, but has always entered nuclear negotiations with pessimism and considering the worst-case scenarios." Mr. Araghchi also reported seeing signs of the closure of the PMD file and added that the Iranian delegation during negotiations on Tuesday had been "somewhat" informed about discussions that Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the IAEA, is expected to present in his report regarding the closure of this file. A member of the Iranian nuclear negotiation team also referred to Ayatollah Khamenei's letter regarding the conditions for carrying out Iran's nuclear activities, stating that "based on this, Iran insists that the other side must choose either the JCPOA or the PMD." He clarified Iran's reaction to the possibility of the PMD issue not being closed in the IAEA Board of Governors, stating that in this case, Iran will not fulfill its commitments. Abbas Araghchi also announced the holding of a joint JCPOA commission between Iran and the 5+1 group in Vienna on December 7 and emphasized: "We have taken all necessary precautions to ensure that the decision regarding the resolution to close the PMD issue leads to the conclusion of this matter by December 15 (December 24)." The Deputy of Mohammad Javad Zarif announced the potential date for the implementation of the JCPOA as "early January, mid-January" if the negotiation process goes well, adding that on that day all sanctions that have so far been lifted on paper will be "suspended or canceled, and we will practically witness the implementation of the JCPOA." The implementation of the JCPOA and the lifting of sanctions against Iran depend on the Islamic Republic's actions in fulfilling its commitments, including reducing the number of centrifuges and trading existing enriched uranium for yellowcake. Meanwhile, Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, in a letter to the President regarding the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement, stated that actions regarding the redesign of the Arak heavy-water reactor and the trade of existing enriched uranium for yellowcake are only permitted when the IAEA announces the "end" of the potential military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program.