Tabnak – In its latest report on the implementation of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) once again confirmed Iran’s compliance to the deal. However, Europe’s failure in guaranteeing Iran’s benefits under the deal is apparently changing Iran’s mind about continuing its abidance.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has once again reaffirmed Iran's compliance with its nuclear-related commitments under a 2015 deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
"Iran is implementing its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,” the IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said in his introductory statement to the IAEA's Board of Governors in Vienna on Monday. “It is essential that Iran continues to fully implement those commitments," he added.
The IAEA chief noted that his report on verification and monitoring in Iran in light of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015) covers relevant activities of the IAEA in the country in the last few months.
Amano further said in his statement that the IAEA would continue to verify the "non-diversion of nuclear material" declared by Iran under its Safeguards Agreement. "Evaluations regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran continue," he noted.
Amano also said the IAEA carefully examines all safeguards-relevant information about implementing verification activities in Iran, but emphasized that this analysis "normally takes time, and takes action when appropriate."
"The agency undertakes analysis and takes action in an impartial, independent and objective manner, within the existing safeguards framework and in line with established safeguards practice," he added.
Reacting to Amano’s report, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated in a tweet that the failure of the other signatories to the deal to live up to their commitments, is making Iran think twice about staying in the deal.
“Contrasting the constant lies that Netanyahu, Trump and Associates tell about Iran, the IAEA once again – and for the umpteenth time – affirms our standing by our word and adhering to the nuclear accord that the US has illegally violated. Our patience, however, is running thin,” Zarif wrote.
Meanwhile, a new video clip released on Monday shows Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei never trusted Europeans with their pledge to save the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
The video related to a private meeting between Ayatollah Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani’s cabinet last July shows the Leader advising against tying Iran's economy to Europe’s special payment channel.
Ayatollah Khamenei’s official website published the clip for the first time on Monday, revealing the Leader’s reservations about Europe's bid to guard trade with Iran against US sanctions.
“One day we tied all of the country’s economic issues to the JCPOA and the JCPOA could not resolve our country’s economic issues or help us in any significant way,” the Leader says in the video.
The Leader also advises the government to avoid conditioning people to the European package. "Don’t make this a main issue; either the European package arrives or it doesn’t."
For his part, Zarif said today that “the guidelines of the Leader of Islamic Revolution Seyed Ali Khamenei, including the strategy of not awaiting the JCPOA package, has always been our light on the path ahead.”
The US imposed new sanctions on the Islamic Republic after President Donald Trump abandoned the JCPOA in May 2018. The Europeans did not follow suit, trying instead to keep Iran in the agreement by promising incentives which generated new expectations in the government.
After spending months discussing possible mechanisms to guarantee continued trade with Tehran, the Europeans last month unveiled the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) with strings attached.
Senior Iranian officials have objected to Europe’s preconditions, which require Iran to join the FATF (the Financial Action Task Force) and start negotiations on its missile program before INSTEX enters into force.
