The European Union Begins Implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran

On Friday, August 9, the Council of the European Union approved the first legal measures for the implementation of the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group, which was also endorsed by the United Nations Security Council in a resolution. Iran and the P5+1 countries reached an agreement on the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on July 14 of this year. According to this agreement, Iran agreed to impose significant restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions against it. The United Nations Security Council endorsed this agreement on July 30 by adopting Resolution 2231. The press release from the Council of the European Union states that the approved resolution allows for the removal of certain equipment related to nuclear activities from Iran, changes to two cascades at the Fordow nuclear site, and the modernization of the Arak reactor, as well as permitting transfers and activities necessary for the implementation of specific nuclear commitments related to the JCPOA or to facilitate the implementation of the JCPOA. The Council of the European Union states that the legal actions approved in this regard will become EU law. With the EU Council's resolution, member countries can now participate in the activities mentioned in this statement without any prohibitions. Iran's nuclear negotiations with the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia along with Germany, the P5+1 members, resumed with the coming to power of Hassan Rouhani's government in 2013. The ultimate goal of these negotiations was to end the Iranian nuclear dispute after about 13 years. The JCPOA is now awaiting a decision from the U.S. Congress. Republicans, who hold the majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, have opposed the comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran. Meanwhile, the Obama administration has intensified its efforts to secure congressional approval for the nuclear agreement with Iran.