USA: Completion of Iran's Nuclear Commitments Requires Independent Verification

The White House states that Iran has made significant steps in fulfilling its commitments for the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement, but the lifting of sanctions requires independent verification of these actions. While the European Union has announced that it is ready to lift economic and financial sanctions against Iran as soon as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirms Tehran's compliance, on Friday, January 25, Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, stated, "We want to ensure that Iran is not just putting on a show." Previously, the U.S. Secretary of State had announced that he was informed through Iran that a key action had been taken to remove the core of the Arak reactor. Iran had also previously transferred a significant portion of its enriched uranium stockpile to Russia and reported the concrete filling of the central holes of the Arak reactor. This action, if verified by the IAEA, would pave the way for the announcement of the "Implementation Day" of the JCPOA and the lifting of sanctions on Iran. Meanwhile, all eyes were on Vienna, the IAEA headquarters, on Friday to determine the date of the so-called "Implementation Day" if the IAEA report confirms Iran's commitments. In this regard, the White House spokesman stated that no new information regarding the timing of the "Implementation Day" had been received and that Iran would not be free from sanctions until the IAEA's confirmation report was released. Mr. Earnest added that the IAEA's report on Iran's completion of its commitments regarding the nuclear agreement goes beyond a technical report, and there are widespread reasons for distrust towards Iran. Previously, the U.S. Secretary of State had confirmed that "if things go well, we are only a few days away from the implementation of the JCPOA." Regarding the lifting of sanctions on Iran, the European Union issued a statement on Thursday night emphasizing a two-week extension of the suspension of sanctions, announcing that as soon as the IAEA confirms Iran's compliance, the EU's sanctions against Tehran will be lifted. In this context, diplomatic sources told AFP that the 28 EU member countries have prepared detailed guidelines for lifting sanctions, which are now with the Netherlands, as the EU's rotating presidency, for finalization. The EU and the U.S. had previously issued guidelines regarding the lifting of sanctions in November. The IAEA is expected to officially confirm Tehran's fulfillment of these commitments within hours on Friday or at the latest in the next couple of days, after which a joint statement by Mohammad Javad Zarif and Federica Mogherini will officially announce what is referred to in the nuclear agreement as the "Implementation Day." Other reports suggest a possible meeting between John Kerry, Mohammad Javad Zarif, and Federica Mogherini on Saturday, although some sources have indicated Geneva and others Vienna as the meeting location. Mr. Kerry is scheduled to be in Zurich, Switzerland, in the coming days to discuss the Syrian peace process with his Russian counterpart. The EU, U.S., and UN sanctions against Iran, which are set to be lifted simultaneously with the "Implementation Day" of the JCPOA, have inflicted heavy damages on Iran's economy, including the freezing of billions of dollars of Tehran's assets abroad and severe restrictions on economic and technological investments in Iran.