Salehi: Lifting Sanctions Depends on the Speed of Iran's Actions

The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization announced the completion of the signatures on the "redesign document" for the Arak reactor and stated that the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement and the lifting of sanctions depend on the "speed of actions" of the Islamic Republic in fulfilling its commitments. According to the state news agency IRNA, Ali Akbar Salehi, on Thursday, November 19, also described the recent report by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as "relatively good" and said that the Agency is "gradually on the right track." According to Salehi, the countries of the 5+1 group and Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, have announced in the "redesign document" for the Arak reactor that they will cooperate with the Islamic Republic in "design, equipment supply, and various stages of work" for the redesign of this reactor. He pointed out the condition set by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic for the start of the redesign of the Arak reactor, adding: "At the same time, we have begun commercial negotiations with China and hope that by after December 15, all necessary grounds for the full implementation of the JCPOA will be provided." The heavy water facility at Arak was one of the contentious issues between Iran and Western countries, but Iran agreed under the Vienna nuclear agreement to remove the core of the Arak reactor and fill its openings with concrete so that it could no longer be used. Under this agreement, Iran will make technical changes to its fuel production lines in Arak with the help of the US and China to be compatible with the new reactor. Representatives from Iran, the US, and China announced on October 18 that the renovation and redesign of the Arak reactor would be carried out "under the management and leadership of Iran." However, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, in a letter to the Iranian President regarding the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement, stated that actions regarding the redesign of the heavy water reactor in Arak and the exchange of existing enriched uranium for yellowcake would only be permissible when the IAEA announces the "end" of the investigation into the possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program. According to a confidential agreement between Iran and the IAEA, signed under the title "roadmap" on July 14, ambiguities regarding the possible military dimensions of Iran's previous nuclear program or PMD are to be resolved. Meanwhile, Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the IAEA, in his new report, referring to the completion of actions related to the "roadmap," announced that he would present his final report to the Board of Governors of the organization he oversees on December 15. Salehi described the new report from the Director General of the IAEA as "relatively good" and added: "If we pay attention to Mr. Amano's recent statements in Brussels and New York, it seems that the Agency is gradually on the right track." These statements come just a day after Reza Najafi, Iran's representative to the IAEA, described the agency's new report on Iran as "a repetition of the contents of previous reports." Najafi added that "unfortunately, the report once again includes technical and unnecessary details that have been repeatedly objected to by us and the Non-Aligned Movement." He also stated that "this report also shows that all nuclear activities at Iran's facilities continue under the supervision of the Agency and there has been no deviation from peaceful purposes." Iran's actions began after the JCPOA law was communicated. Salehi also referred to the IAEA's report on the collection of centrifuges at Iran's nuclear facilities, stating that the Islamic Republic began "reversible and time-consuming" actions related to the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement "immediately" after the law for the implementation of this agreement was communicated. He emphasized that after the possible closure of the investigation into the possible military dimensions of Iran's previous nuclear program at the IAEA's Board of Governors, the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement depends on the "speed of Iran's actions," as Europe and the US have issued the necessary instructions regarding the lifting of sanctions. The head of the Atomic Energy Organization added: "It is important for us that this time, while considering the principle of guarantees from the opposite side, be as short as possible and to prevent delays in the implementation of the JCPOA and the complete lifting of sanctions within the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action." The United States and the European Union took official steps regarding the lifting of sanctions on October 18, contingent on Iran fulfilling its commitments under the JCPOA. Meanwhile, the state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday, November 14, that a "consultative meeting" between the EU and the US with Iran was held in Geneva to draft the texts of instructions and statements related to the Vienna nuclear agreement regarding the lifting of sanctions against Iran.