Salehi: The Vienna Agreement Will Be Fully Implemented by Early January

The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization stated that Iran's actions to fulfill its commitments under the Vienna nuclear agreement will take a maximum of two months, and the start of these actions will be determined by President Hassan Rouhani. According to the state news agency IRNA, Ali Akbar Salehi expressed hope on Tuesday, October 13, that with the Guardian Council's positive opinion on the parliament's resolution from that day, next week would be the day of the 'announcement' and 'approval' of the Vienna nuclear agreement. The Iranian parliament approved the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement on Tuesday during a session marked by turmoil and tension. Salehi noted that 'approval' means that the parties officially declare the Vienna nuclear agreement accepted. He emphasized that after the 'approval day', the actions to be taken will be 'routine' and there will be no need for further approvals. Meanwhile, Nejatollah Ebrahimian, spokesman for the Guardian Council, stated that if the parliament's resolution is sent to the Council today, it will be reviewed in the Council's session on Wednesday or Thursday. Salehi mentioned that after the 'approval day', the European Union will officially announce the lifting of sanctions, but the timing of this will depend on when Iran completes its 'on-the-ground' actions. He added that the President of the United States will also read a statement announcing that U.S. sanctions against Iran will be 'lifted and suspended', which will also be contingent upon Iran completing its 'on-the-ground' actions. He stated, 'Our on-the-ground actions will take a maximum of about one and a half to two months, and we can say that by late December or early January of this year, we will witness the complete implementation of the JCPOA.' Regarding the report that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) must provide about the possible dimensions of Iran's previous military nuclear program (PMD), he said that according to the 'roadmap' signed between Iran and the IAEA, 'things have been going well so far.' He added, 'One of the conditions that the President must ensure is that the work with the IAEA has proceeded normally; at that time, the President will issue the necessary orders for on-the-ground actions.' Abbas Araqchi, a senior member of Iran's nuclear negotiating team, had predicted on October 11 that the 'final stages' of implementing the 'roadmap' would conclude by the end of that week. According to the roadmap signed on July 14 this year between Iran's Atomic Energy Organization and the IAEA, ambiguities regarding Iran's past nuclear program are to be resolved. Yukiya Amano, the IAEA Director General, visited the Parchin facility on September 20, and Iranian experts also took samples from this facility.