Salehi: No Secret Document Signed with US Energy Secretary

Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization and a member of the nuclear negotiation team between Iran and six world powers, stated that "no secret document regarding the nuclear future" has been signed between Iran and the United States. In an interview with Iranian state television on October 1, he said, "We did not sign a secret document. When a country signs the Additional Protocol, it submits its long-term program to the Agency [International Atomic Energy Agency]. We have announced our long-term program to the Agency for the next 15 years." This response from the Iranian official comes in relation to a question about a secret document "between him and Ernest Moniz," the US Energy Secretary, which "has not been revealed and is said to concern the nuclear future" of Iran. The head of the Atomic Energy Organization noted that "any country" that submits its long-term program to the atomic agency requests that this program not be made public. The Associated Press had reported in July that it had obtained a document indicating that by easing key restrictions on Iran's nuclear program, the time required for Iran to acquire nuclear weapons would be halved in just over a decade. The publication of this report led to widespread reactions from the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iranian and American officials. The Agency denied allegations regarding the leak of the "document" from its institution in August. Meanwhile, Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, had accused the US and two other countries of leaking confidential information at that time. The US has denied the existence of a secret annex in the nuclear agreement. Ali Akbar Salehi stated that Iran has accepted limitations under the JCPOA, some of which are for 15 years and "one" for 25 years. The 25-year limitation he referred to is related to "monitoring the transportation of yellowcake from Ardakan to Isfahan." "If we look fairly, there has been a significant opening," Salehi said in another part of his remarks, although he emphasized that "trust has completely eroded." He noted, "There is no longer a need to take complicated paths to purchase [technology]. If we want to buy equipment, we will do so through the procurement channel, so the JCPOA has really opened the way." The head of the Atomic Energy Organization added, "However, trust has completely eroded, and the parties do not trust each other; this is a reality." In recent weeks, members of Hassan Rouhani's government have criticized the implementation of the nuclear agreement and the benefits that Iran should have gained from it, including access to major Western financial institutions and banks. American officials have also rejected these criticisms. Among them, Ernest Moniz, the counterpart to Salehi, stated that Washington has fulfilled all its commitments under the nuclear agreement with Iran. On Monday, October 1, he asserted that there is no reason for Iran to claim that the US has not taken necessary actions to lift sanctions. Ali Akbar Salehi remarked, "The Americans say they have acted according to the JCPOA, and Mr. Araqchi also said there is no issue within the framework of the JCPOA"; however, the US "intimidates banks behind the scenes that if the slightest violation occurs, certain consequences will follow." The head of the Atomic Energy Organization further added, "I want to say something; the real question should be: what would have happened if we did not have the JCPOA? This is also a question." Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, in remarks on Wednesday supporting negotiations with the West, stated that the Iranian government's effort in negotiations has been to "create openings," but the effects of the agreements "do not manifest overnight." Rouhani criticized those who previously protested that the agreements would yield no results, but after the results became apparent, they complained about why the outcomes are not greater. In this context, Salehi stated that the incomplete lifting of sanctions could jeopardize the future of the JCPOA. The US Energy Secretary stated that they have fulfilled all their commitments under the JCPOA. The head of the Central Bank of Iran called for support from European banks and companies. Rouhani noted that when we want to resolve issues with the West, a new story emerges.