Salehi's Protest to U.S. Energy Secretary Regarding Extension of Iran Sanctions

IRNA reported that the U.S. Energy Secretary, following the protest of the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, promised that the U.S. President would prevent the implementation of parts of the 'ISA' sanctions extension law that are not in accordance with the JCPOA. According to the state news agency IRNA, Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, and Ernest Moniz, U.S. Energy Secretary, met on Sunday, December 5, during the International Conference on Nuclear Security in Vienna. In this meeting, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization strongly protested against the extension of Iran sanctions in the U.S. Congress and called for preventing the enforcement of this law. According to IRNA, Ernest Moniz also stated that he would convey Iran's protest to the U.S. President. He promised that the U.S. President would continue to prevent the implementation of all sections contrary to the JCPOA using his powers. The approved plan to extend Iran sanctions in Congress will be in effect again until 2026 after the President's approval. In this context, spokespeople for the White House and the U.S. State Department, in separate comments, predicted that this measure would be approved by Barack Obama, emphasizing that this measure gives the Secretary of State the authority to lift nuclear sanctions from this set as long as Iran adheres to its commitments under the nuclear agreement (JCPOA). Iranian officials have deemed this plan a violation of the JCPOA; Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, also described this measure on Sunday as 'contrary' to the Vienna nuclear agreement and 'violating' it. He emphasized that the U.S. President is 'obligated' to prevent the approval and especially the enforcement of the extension of Iran sanctions using his powers. On the same day, 264 members of parliament signed a statement declaring the extension of the D'Amato law by the U.S. Senate to be 'in conflict with the text and spirit of the JCPOA' and called for reciprocal action by the Iranian government in this regard. Meanwhile, according to Fars News Agency, 88 members of the Iranian parliament have prepared an urgent proposal requesting the government to resume nuclear activities without considering 'JCPOA limitations' and only within the framework of the NPT.