IAEA report says Iran complying with deal

VIENNA — A confidential report by the UN nuclear agency IAEA on Thursday showed Teheran is still complying with the historic nuclear deal after the United States’ withdrawal from it.

The report, seen by Xinhua, said the International Atomic Energy Agency is monitoring Iran’s nuclear capability under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (also known as JCPOA). There is no sign in the report that Iran is violating the deal, which freezes its atomic expansion.

No substantial elements in Teheran’s program was found to be violating the deal, including Iran’s activities related to heavy water and reprocessing, enrichment and fuel, centrifuge research and development, according to the report.

China, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and Iran are to meet on Friday in Vienna to discuss the Iranian nuclear deal for the first time since the US pullout from the accord.

Beijing on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to implementing the deal and urged all parties concerned to take a responsible and reasonable approach to ensure it remains in place.

“Practice over the past three years has proved fully the deal is effective. China has always believed that safeguarding the deal’s integrity and seriousness helps to uphold the international nonproliferation regime, as well as peace and stability in the Middle East,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said. “We believe that insisting on effective implementation of the deal could have served as a very good example for solving other hot international issues.”

Previously, European diplomats agreed on May 16 to follow through the landmark Iran nuclear deal despite US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw.

To this end, the EU will launch intensive discussion at all levels with Iran in next few weeks, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said.

The discussion will focus on how to maintain economic relations and effective banking transactions with Iran in the context of renewed US sanctions, according to Mogherini.

“We reaffirm our resolve to continue to implement the nuclear deal in all its parts, in good faith, and in a constructive atmosphere,” she said.

In July 2015, six world powers and Iran signed the JCPOA, which eased sanctions on Iran in exchange for Teheran limiting its nuclear program.

XINHUA — CHINA DAILY