US State Department Official: Iran Has Technically Complied with Nuclear Agreement

On Wednesday, Brian Hook, the US State Department negotiator for reviewing the Iran nuclear agreement, stated that constructive negotiations have taken place with Britain, France, and Germany, but it is still uncertain whether the US will remain in the JCPOA. Hook mentioned that while discussions with Germany, France, and Britain have been productive, a plan that could demonstrate our ability to act in case of failure or deadlock has not yet been reached. The US political planning director also stated that Tehran has adhered to its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is responsible for monitoring Iran's commitments and verifying them. The IAEA has consistently confirmed Tehran's compliance with the agreement over the past three years. Hook further stated, "It is responsible to be prepared for every situation and to consider a potential plan in case negotiations do not succeed." He added, "We are pursuing this in two parallel tracks." This US official mentioned that last week, two negotiations took place on this matter: one on Thursday with Germany, Britain, and France in Berlin, and the other on Friday in Vienna, Austria, with a group reviewing the implementation process of the JCPOA. Hook indicated that beyond the nuclear agreement, the US has also held bilateral negotiations with Iran in Vienna, requesting the release of Iranian-American citizens imprisoned in Iran. Siamak and Baqer Namazi are among the Iranian-Americans detained in Iran. Baqer Namazi, a former UNICEF employee, was arrested two years ago while visiting his son in Tehran and both were sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly cooperating with "hostile foreign governments." In addition to the Namazis, several other American citizens are currently imprisoned in Iran, including Zhao Wang, a Princeton doctoral student who was researching in Iran and was sentenced to 10 years for "collaborating with a foreign government." Karen Vafadari and her husband Afrin Niasari, along with Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese citizen with permanent residency in the US, are imprisoned in Iran on various charges. In 2015, Iran and six world powers reached an agreement to end Tehran's nuclear dispute. Under this agreement, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of nuclear sanctions against Tehran. Donald Trump, who has been a strong critic of the JCPOA since his 2016 presidential campaign, threatened on January 12 last year that he would not extend the suspension of nuclear sanctions under this agreement if "catastrophic flaws" in the nuclear deal with Iran are not addressed. The deadline set by the US ends on May 12, 2018. The US, along with Saudi Arabia and Israel, is a serious critic of the JCPOA. In recent weeks, reports have indicated that Europe is negotiating to impose additional sanctions regarding Iran's missile activities and its role in Syria. Europe's hope is that with new sanctions, the United States will not withdraw from the JCPOA. The US President has set four conditions for continuing US participation in the JCPOA, which include: "immediate access" for international inspectors to all Iranian sites and facilities, making restrictions on Iran's nuclear program permanent, ensuring that Iran does not approach nuclear weapons, and limiting Iran's long-range missile program. Iranian officials have always described Iran's missile program as "defensive and deterrent" and have declared that discussions on it are a red line for the country under any circumstances. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, has stated that if the US exits the JCPOA, such a move would be a "painful mistake" for the country.