Iraqi: The official signing of the Arak redesign document will be finalized by Monday

Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, stated on Saturday, November 23, that the official signing of the Arak reactor redesign document will be finalized by Monday. According to IRNA, the Deputy Foreign Minister mentioned, "The signing of the official redesign document for Arak by the foreign ministers of Iran and the 1+5 is currently being conducted in a rotational manner and will be completed by Monday." In this context, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, said on Saturday regarding the Arak redesign document, "Almost all ministers have signed this document, and one or two ministers remain who will sign today and tomorrow, and the document will be finalized." Representatives from Iran, the United States, and China announced on October 18 that the renovation and redesign of the Arak reactor would be conducted "under the management and leadership of Iran." The heavy water facilities in Arak and the removal of its core have been subjects of much debate both before and after the Vienna nuclear agreement. The West has demanded structural changes to the facility, arguing that it could produce plutonium usable in nuclear weapons. Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, previously stated in a letter to the Iranian President for the approval of the Vienna nuclear agreement that action regarding the renovation of the Arak heavy water plant "will only begin if a definitive and reliable contract regarding the alternative plan and sufficient guarantees for its implementation is concluded." Meanwhile, according to IRNA, Mohammad Javad Zarif, after three hours of negotiations about Syria in Vienna, discussed the nuclear agreement and the lifting of sanctions with John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State. After the meeting with Kerry, Zarif stated that the bilateral discussions focused on how to lift the sanctions and the implementation of U.S. commitments. Zarif added that it was necessary to ensure that the U.S. side had fulfilled its commitments, considering the views of the Supreme Leader. He noted that serious and specialized discussions had taken place with the American side and expressed hope that the remaining tasks could be completed by the execution date, which is expected between mid-December and late December. The U.S. and the European Union took official steps on Sunday, October 18, regarding the lifting of sanctions if Iran fulfills its commitments outlined in the JCPOA.