PHOTO: The European Union’s Helga Schmid and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi
Iran and the 5+1 Powers will meet in Vienna on Monday, hoping to proceed with implementation of the July 14 nuclear deal.
The process was given a boost last week when the International Atomic Energy Agency concluded that Iran had not pursued any activity towards a militarized nuclear program since 2009, removing a long-standing obstacle put up by critics of an agreement.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and the European Union’s deputy foreign policy chief Helga Schmid conferred for 2 1/2 hours in Vienna on Sunday.
“There were decisions made so that everything will move in the direction of implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,” Araqchi said afterwards.
The Minister said he was looking to the IAEA’s Board Governors to accept the report on Iran’s past nuclear work, effectively closing the file on the issue.
“Although the IAEA report has failed in making a final assessment in certain sections, its assessment is very clear. It says Iran’s activities did not go beyond research,” he declared.
The Rouhani Government had hoped for IAEA verification of Iran’s compliance with the JCPOA by December 15, triggering the process to remove US and European Union sanctions. However, this was delayed by objections from Iranian hardliners about implementation, notably the reduction of uranium centrifuges.
Araqchi said last week that he expected the IAEA verification by “early January”.
