Rouhani to Amano: Iran Will Not Be the Initiator of JCPOA Violation

The President of Iran, during a meeting with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reiterated that the U.S. Senate's decision to extend sanctions against Iran is "contrary" to the Vienna nuclear agreement, stating that Iran will not be the initiator of any violation of this agreement. According to ISNA news agency, Hassan Rouhani on Sunday, December 19, also called for the IAEA's reports to be "technical and impartial" and for the agency to fulfill its duties regarding technical cooperation, the transfer of peaceful nuclear technology, and nuclear trade. Rouhani emphasized that the sustainability of the JCPOA depends on all parties adhering to their commitments, adding that Iran will continue to uphold its obligations as long as the other parties remain committed. The Iranian President described recent U.S. actions, particularly the Congressional decision to extend the Iran sanctions law known as "ISA," as "contrary" to the Vienna nuclear agreement, stating that "the path the U.S. has taken regarding Iran will lead to a decrease in global trust" in its government. Yukiya Amano, the IAEA Director General, arrived in Tehran on Sunday morning and had met with Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, prior to his meeting with Rouhani. Amano's visit comes as Iranian officials consider the U.S. Congressional decision to extend the sanctions law known as the D'Amato law a "violation" of the Vienna nuclear agreement. This legislation became law without the signature of Barack Obama, the U.S. President. Meanwhile, the Iranian President has instructed the Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization to implement the measures outlined in the JCPOA to address violations of this international agreement. On Tuesday, December 14, Rouhani had requested in a letter to the Atomic Energy Organization to plan for the construction of nuclear-powered ships and the fuel for these vessels. Salehi stated on Sunday that he had discussed this issue with the IAEA Director General. The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran announced that the fuel used for these ships would be enriched "from 5 percent to 90 percent," but Iran would carry out this action within the framework of its "safeguard" commitments. In this meeting, Rouhani also emphasized that the IAEA must fulfill its duties to ensure the sustainability of the JCPOA, stating: "The agency's reports must be technical and impartial, and we expect the agency to effectively carry out its responsibilities in technical cooperation, acquiring peaceful nuclear technology, and nuclear trade." According to this report, the IAEA Director General also stated in this meeting that the agency would continue its work "as a neutral and technical organization." Yukiya Amano also emphasized that Iran has so far adhered to its commitments. Amano, along with his deputy for safeguards and IAEA managers, visited Tehran. The IAEA had announced before Amano's trip to Tehran that Iran and the agency have been in regular high-level contact, and this trip is in line with those communications. Concurrently with the release of this statement, Ali Akbar Salehi accused the IAEA in an interview with Iranian television of acting "politically" and stated that there is a "heavy shadow of influential countries over this agency, especially regarding the JCPOA." Salehi mentioned that in the event of a violation of the Vienna nuclear agreement, Iran could "return in a way that would surprise the other side."