The European Union Approves the Necessary Legal Framework for Lifting Sanctions

The state news agency IRNA published a joint statement from Mohammad Javad Zarif and Federica Mogherini on Sunday evening, October 18, emphasizing the commitment of all parties to implement the JCPOA as soon as possible and announcing the approval of the EU's legal framework for lifting sanctions. Following the legal steps for implementing the nuclear agreement within the 90-day period specified in the JCPOA, Sunday, October 18, was designated as 'Approval Day' for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and the joint statement from Iran's Foreign Minister and the EU's foreign policy chief described the implementation timeline outlined in the JCPOA as a sign of 'collective will to adhere to its provisions.' Mogherini, who has represented six global powers in leading these negotiations since taking office, stated that the EU approved the 'necessary legal framework' for lifting 'all economic and financial sanctions related to the nuclear program' on Sunday, adding that on the 'Implementation Day' of the JCPOA, these laws will become 'enforceable' simultaneously with the implementation of the agreed nuclear actions by Iran and their verification by the Agency. The joint statement also referenced the United States' actions to halt sanctions related to the nuclear program, emphasizing that the U.S. actions will also be 'enforceable' from the 'Implementation Day' of the JCPOA. The 'Implementation Day' is when the International Atomic Energy Agency verifies Iran's compliance with its JCPOA commitments. It is expected that the process of Iran's implementation of its commitments and the Agency's verification will take at least two months, with the results of these actions announced at the December Board of Governors meeting. Just hours before the publication of the joint statement from Iran and the EU, U.S. President Barack Obama issued an important executive order to lift sanctions against Iran on the day of the nuclear agreement's implementation. In his order, Obama emphasized that 'this is an important day for all of us and the first step in a process that assures us that Iran's nuclear program will remain solely for peaceful purposes.' The joint statement from Zarif and Mogherini also noted that to further facilitate the necessary conditions for implementing the JCPOA, the Joint Commission provided for in the JCPOA will hold its first meeting 'at the political directors' level' on October 19 in Vienna. Previously, the Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations in Vienna told Interfax that the first meeting of the Joint Commission of Iran and the P5+1, aimed at reviewing the implementation of the nuclear agreement, will be held on Monday in the Austrian capital. Vladimir Voronkov added that this meeting will focus on 'a general assessment of the progress of the roadmap for cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency,' and he will represent his country, Russia, at this meeting.