Rasai: A gentleman said the leadership has accepted the collection of centrifuges

Hamid Rasai, a representative from Tehran in the parliament, quoted an unnamed official from Hassan Rouhani's government, stating that the leader of the Islamic Republic has "accepted" Iran's initiation of "practical actions" for the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement. According to ISNA news agency, Mr. Rasai deemed these statements from government officials as "unacceptable" during a warning in the open session of parliament on Tuesday, November 12. On the same day, Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, announced that the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement, or JCPOA, is "being pursued" based on the "commands and guidelines" of the leader of the Islamic Republic. However, Mr. Rasai stated in his warning: "I expressed my dissatisfaction with the collection of centrifuges to a gentleman this morning, who replied that we have gone to the esteemed leader and he has accepted practical actions." He added: "These games must end; it is unacceptable that when he publicly raises an issue, some people say we have gone and privately resolved this matter with him, and this action by the government is unacceptable." Mr. Rasai did not mention the name of this individual. Majid Ansari, the parliamentary deputy of the President of Iran, is responsible for communication with parliament representatives and also attends some public sessions of the parliament. On Monday, November 11, 20 members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly also called for the cessation of the collection of centrifuges in Natanz and Fordow in a warning to the President of Iran. Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, stated in an interview with Kyodo News that Iran has begun implementing the Vienna nuclear agreement by reducing the number of uranium enrichment centrifuges. However, the spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said, "We are preparing some actions to shorten the time for the implementation of the JCPOA." According to IRIB news agency, Behrouz Kamalvandi added: "Of course, these actions are not related to the present but have been on the agenda since the announcement of the JCPOA law, which must be carried out with delicacy, and we will report on these actions." Mr. Kamalvandi referred to the leader's conditions for implementing the Vienna nuclear agreement, stating that the issue of the possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program or PMD will be "resolved" by December 15. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, in his letter to Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, for the approval of the Vienna nuclear agreement, stated that actions regarding the modernization of the Arak heavy water reactor "will only begin if a definitive and reliable contract regarding the replacement plan and sufficient guarantees for its implementation are concluded." He also emphasized that "the transaction of existing enriched uranium in exchange for yellowcake with a foreign government will begin only if a reliable contract in this regard is concluded along with sufficient guarantees." Mr. Khamenei set the condition that actions related to these two clauses "will only begin when the agency announces the conclusion of the current and past issues." Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, is scheduled to present his final report on the possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program to the Board of Governors on December 15. Abbas Araghchi, a senior member of Iran's nuclear negotiating team, stated on Tuesday evening in a television program that this condition of the leader of the Islamic Republic has been "fulfilled" and the Islamic Republic can begin its actions for the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement. He stated that "no" centrifuge has been collected yet and announced that the collection of centrifuges may begin in "the coming days." Mr. Araghchi emphasized: "We will start work in Natanz and Fordow, but we will not touch Arak and the reserves until the PMD issue is resolved." He added: "According to forecasts, we need 15 to 16 days after the Board of Governors approves the resolution to close the PMD to remove the core of the Arak reactor. Therefore, early January or late December will be the time for the implementation of the JCPOA if the process proceeds in this manner." Under the nuclear agreement between Iran and the 1+5 countries and based on the comprehensive joint plan of the parties to the agreement, Iran is committed to reducing the number of centrifuges and lowering the volume and level of uranium enrichment. In return, the 1+5 countries have also committed to gradually suspend and, in some cases, lift economic, financial, and banking sanctions against Iran as Iran fulfills its obligations under the JCPOA. The United States and the European Union took official steps regarding the removal of sanctions on Sunday, October 26, if Iran complies with its commitments outlined in the JCPOA.