Iraqi: Negotiating parties agree to resolve banking transaction obstacles with Iran

Abbas Araghchi, head of Iran's nuclear team at the Joint Commission meeting in Vienna, stated that negotiating parties with Tehran agreed on Tuesday to resolve obstacles to banking transactions with Iran. According to Reuters, Mr. Araghchi made these remarks on Tuesday, July 29, at the end of the fourth meeting of the Joint Commission of the JCPOA, attended by American diplomats and other countries in Vienna, Austria's capital. He stated, "It is clear that this is a message for the U.S. Treasury Department... to clarify issues for banks and institutions willing to work with Iran and to create a suitable and constructive environment for their transactions." The head of the Iranian negotiating team added, "This is the most important issue that must be resolved by the U.S. government... to provide more clarity and remove obstacles to transactions with Iran." Mr. Araghchi had previously stated that "the Joint Commission established under the JCPOA addresses obstacles that may arise during implementation and makes necessary decisions and fulfills other duties assigned to it under the JCPOA." According to IRNA, the mentioned commission had held two meetings prior to reaching the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and according to this Iranian official, the meeting on Tuesday was its second session after the JCPOA. He identified "restoring banking connections and other obstacles and problems that have arisen in implementing the JCPOA" as topics discussed in this commission. Under the JCPOA, Iran agreed to suspend or halt many of its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions against Tehran. This agreement was implemented in January of last year, but Iranian officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, have repeatedly complained that Iran has not yet been able to benefit from the fruits of this agreement. Islamic Republic officials have repeatedly stated that sanctions against Iran have been lifted on paper, but the U.S. and European countries need to make "greater" efforts to eliminate the "existing psychological atmosphere, especially regarding banking interactions." In this context, Ali Akbar Velayati, an international affairs advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, stated on July 21 that the U.S. does "whatever it wants" against the Islamic Republic after the Vienna nuclear agreement, and the other five members do "nothing" in response to these actions. Because some sanctions related to Iran's missile program and human rights violations by Islamic Republic officials are still pursued by the U.S., major banks and financial institutions say that the boundaries of lifting sanctions are unclear and are concerned about being sanctioned by Washington. Some American officials cite "financial corruption," "lack of transparency," and "support for terrorism" as the main reasons for the international financial system's disengagement from Iran, although Steven Mull, the senior coordinator at the U.S. State Department for implementing the nuclear agreement, has stated that only six months have passed since the implementation of the JCPOA, and it takes time for its effects on people's lives to become apparent. Jack Lew, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, also issued a statement on the first anniversary of the signing of the JCPOA, stating that Iran has gained "significant benefits" from the lifting of nuclear sanctions over the past year. A meeting was scheduled for July 23 between officials from Iran's Central Bank, the U.S. Treasury, and international banks in London, which was postponed to another time. Ali Larijani, the head of Iran's parliament, warned Western countries on July 10 that, according to him, if they want to present the nuclear agreement with Tehran "in a different and desired way," the agreement will fall apart. In this context, Germany's domestic security agency reported on the "expansion" of Iran's nuclear activities after the JCPOA. Dennis Ross: Not implementing the nuclear agreement is not beneficial for Iran. Limbert: The JCPOA does not solve all 36-year problems between Iran and the U.S. Rouhani: Violating the nuclear agreement will be detrimental to all. Steven Mull: It takes time for the effects of the JCPOA to appear in people's lives. Obama: The U.S. has fulfilled all its commitments to lift nuclear sanctions against Iran. Emphasis from the U.S. Treasury on Iran's "significant benefit" from lifting sanctions. Criticism from the U.S. and Russia regarding the UN Secretary-General's report on the agreement with Iran. Zarif's reaction to the alleged AP document regarding the nuclear agreement.