U.S. Treasury Prepares to Lift Sanctions

The U.S. Treasury Department announced that it will issue licenses to lift sanctions against the Iranian government following the implementation of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action). This action by the Treasury comes after President Barack Obama's directive on Sunday, in which he informed all government agencies about the first phase of the JCPOA's implementation. Meanwhile, some members of the U.S. Congress continue to express doubts about the Iranian government's commitment to its obligations. Sunday, October 18, marks the beginning of the implementation phase of the comprehensive nuclear agreement between Iran and six major world powers, known as the JCPOA, which is considered to start 90 days after the UN Security Council's formal endorsement of the agreement. This period is when the governments of Iran, Europe, and the U.S. will begin taking the first steps in fulfilling their heavy commitments. A date for the official implementation of the JCPOA has not yet been set, which will occur when the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officially confirms Iran's full compliance with its commitments to reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium, eliminate two-thirds of installed centrifuges, and halt the establishment of new facilities. Furthermore, the nuclear agreement obligates the U.S. and the European Union to begin lifting sanctions from the day of implementation. Following President Obama's directive, the U.S. Treasury is preparing to lift sanctions and will issue licenses for those sanctions covered by this directive. The licenses from the U.S. Treasury will provide necessary facilities for companies and traders to fully understand the lifted sanctions and properly implement the law. President Obama has instructed the Secretaries of State and Treasury to take additional steps to expedite and enhance the effectiveness of U.S. commitments. However, doubts about the Iranian government's full compliance remain among many members of Congress. Ed Royce, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has accused the Obama administration of naivety, stating that the Iranian government has shown minimal cooperation with international inspectors regarding its past nuclear activities. He warned that if the outcome of the 90-day period is such, the outlook for the coming years will be disastrous. Nevertheless, President Obama emphasized in his statement on Sunday that the focus will now be on the complete and comprehensive implementation of the resolution addressing concerns about the Iranian nuclear program. Last Friday, during a joint press conference with the President of South Korea, Obama noted that the agreement with Iran was to ensure that the Islamic Republic does not acquire nuclear weapons, stating that the nuclear agreement does not resolve many other issues that the U.S. has with Tehran. Therefore, pressure on the Iranian government through the international community will continue, and it will be made clear through existing bilateral channels that their inappropriate behavior in the region and around the world will have consequences. On Capitol Hill, some Democratic members of Congress have also called for the establishment of a committee similar to the Helsinki Commission to play a constructive role in effectively implementing the provisions of the JCPOA. This proposal was made by Jerry Connolly, a Democratic member from Virginia, and several other party colleagues who support the nuclear agreement with Iran and are optimistic about the implementation of the JCPOA. A report from Agence France-Presse adds to this optimism, stating that the Islamic Republic has informed the IAEA that its inspectors will have greater access to Iran's nuclear facilities in the future.