News / Nuclear Energy

Iran calls on US to fulfill commitments under nuclear deal

Wednesday, 14 June 2017 3:44 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 15 June 2017 11:06 AM ]

Iran's Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Reza Najafi (file photo)

Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says the US needs to honor its commitments under the landmark nuclear agreement between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries.

Reza Najafi made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Vienna on Wednesday after an IAEA Board of Governors meeting, which focused on a report by the agency’s chief, Yukiya Amano, on the implementation of the Iranian nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

During the session, "we said the way the US is dealing with its commitments under the JCPOA is not acceptable to Iran, and the US needs to live up to its obligations, Najafi said.

The envoy said Iran’s nuclear program was going ahead as per the JCPOA and that the latest IAEA report showed Iran’s commitment to all of its obligations.

The Iranian delegation, however, stressed during the meeting that the JCPOA would be "sustainable" only if all parties fulfilled their obligations stipulated in the deal, he added.

Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China – plus Germany signed the JCPOA in July 2015 and started implementing it in January 2016.

Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.

During his presidential campaign, US President Donald Trump had promised to ditch the nuclear accord which he referred to as a "disaster" and "the worst deal ever negotiated."

The IAEA, which is monitoring the implementation of the JCPOA, has confirmed Iran's commitment to its obligations under the agreement.

Read more:

IAEA verifies Iran’s commitment to JCPOA

Iran in talks to sell excess heavy water

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian envoy said Iran was in talks with potential buyers to sell its excess heavy water.

As part of the JCPOA, Iran is expected to keep its heavy water stockpile below 130 metric tonnes. The deal says all excess heavy water "will be made available for export to the international market based on international prices and delivered to the international buyer."

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said in October last year that Iran had sold 32 tonnes of heavy water to the United States and delivered 38 tonnes of the nuclear substance to Russia.

Ali Akbar Salehi also said in November 2016 that the country had transferred 11 tonnes of heavy water to Oman as part of its obligations under the JCPOA.

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