Zarif: Sanctions Will Be Lifted Today; Zarif and Kerry Meet in Vienna

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, arrived in Vienna early Saturday, followed by his American counterpart, John Kerry. According to reports, the two foreign ministers have begun discussions at the Coburg Hotel. Upon his arrival in Vienna, Zarif stated that today, with the report from the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the JCPOA will be implemented and sanctions will be lifted. Zarif, on Saturday, January 26, arrived in Vienna along with Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization, Abbas Araghchi, Deputy Foreign Minister, Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization, and Hossein Jaberi Ansari, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry. According to IRNA, Zarif said upon his arrival in Vienna, "Today, sanctions will be lifted." He also remarked, "Today is a good day for the people of Iran, the world, and the region." Zarif added, "This day proves that we can solve major world problems through diplomacy. What is happening today is a clear symbol that issues are resolved through dialogue, not through threats, pressure, and sanctions." The Iranian Foreign Minister announced that his agenda in Vienna includes a meeting with the Director General of the IAEA, the announcement of the implementation of the JCPOA, and bilateral meetings with Federica Mogherini and possibly the foreign ministers of the P5+1 countries, including John Kerry. He stated, "These meetings are to ensure the proper implementation of the JCPOA." Zarif emphasized that after the IAEA report on Iran, a statement will be issued with Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, representing the P5+1 to underscore the "importance of this event." According to the nuclear agreement (JCPOA), the IAEA is responsible for verifying Iran's commitments, and Yukiya Amano, its Director General, is scheduled to present his report to the Board of Governors today. The White House also announced on Friday that John Kerry, with special authority from Barack Obama, is heading to Vienna to announce the lifting of sanctions on Iran following the IAEA report. Redesigning and removing the core of the Arak reactor, along with reducing the number of centrifuges at the Natanz and Fordow sites and exchanging Iran's enriched uranium for raw uranium or yellowcake, were conditions for the commencement of the nuclear agreement with six world powers. Iranian Atomic Energy Organization officials have previously announced that the reduction of centrifuges and the transfer of Iran's uranium stockpile to Russia, as well as the removal of the reactor's core and the concreting of the reactor's cavities, have been completed. According to the Vienna nuclear agreement reached on July 14 this year between Tehran and six world powers, 5,060 centrifuges must remain in Natanz and 1,044 in the Fordow site. Iran has also announced that it has exported 11 tons of its enriched uranium to Russia in exchange for about 200 tons of yellowcake. Meanwhile, IRNA reported an increase in the Tehran Stock Exchange index ahead of the lifting of sanctions. According to this report, the Tehran Stock Exchange index has risen by more than 1,000 units, breaking a record after 18 months. By the morning of January 26, 1,076 million shares and rights valued at 1,145 billion and 139 million rials had been traded in 44,000 transactions. According to IRNA, Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, will give a direct speech on Iranian television after the joint statement by Zarif and Mogherini is read.