Tariq Rauf, former Head of the Verification and Security Policy Coordination Office at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), talked to International Service of Mehr News Agency where he asserted that Iran has abided by its JCPOA promises and that a breach of the deal is a violation of United Nations Security Council resolution.
Here is Tariq Rauf’s responses to our questions:
How do you see the implementation process of JCPOA so far?
All IAEA reports to date have maintained the "safeguards conclusion" that the Agency continues to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material at the nuclear facilities and locations outside facilities where nuclear material is customarily used (LOFs) declared by Iran under its Safeguards Agreement. Evaluations regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities for Iran remained ongoing.I ran continues to provisionally apply the Additional Protocol to its Safeguards Agreement in accordance with Article 17(b) of the Additional Protocol, pending its entry into force. The Agency has conducted a number of complementary accesses (short notice inspections) under the Additional Protocol to sites and other locations in Iran. Since Implementation Day, the Agency has been verifying and monitoring the implementation by Iran of its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA.The estimated annual cost to the Agency for the implementation of Iran’s Additional Protocol and for verifying and monitoring Iran’s nuclear-related commitments as set out in the JCPOA is €9.2 million per annum, all of which has been provided from extrabudgetary funds in 2016.
On 14 July 2016, a statement by the US President noted that "during the past year, Iran has implemented its nuclear-related commitments, as verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iran has shipped out 98 percent of its enriched uranium, dismantled two thirds of its centrifuges, filled its plutonium production reactor with concrete, and adopted the most intrusive inspection and verification program ever negotiated for a nuclear program. IAEA reports have confirmed that Iran is complying with its commitments." (https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/07/14/statement-president-one-year-anniversary-joint-comprehensive-plan-action).
A recent report by the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) claimed that Iran was secretly given exemptions to the limits under the JCPOA in order to allow Iran to be in compliance by Implementation Day (16 January 2016). This claim was rejected by the White House press spokesman, Josh Earnest, who said that "Iran has been in compliance with the Agreement", and also rejected the ISIS claim that the US had relaxed any JCPOA conditions and dismissed the report. The US State Department spokesman, John Kirby also rejected the ISIS report and said that "There’s been no loosening of the commitments and Iran has not and will not be allowed to exceed the limits that are spelled out in the JCPOA.”
How do you foresee the implementation process in future?
Based on Iran's implementation of the JPA and the JCPOA, as reported by the IAEA and the US, it is highly likely that Iran will continue with full implementation of the JCPOA and its IAEA safeguards agreement and additional protocol, as this is clearly in Iran's own national strategic interest. Critics and rejectionists both in Iran and in the US are seriously misguided and incorrect in opposing the JCPOA. The principal beneficiaries of the JCPOA are the people of Iran and it is the responsibility of the Government of Iran to do all it can to further the well-being and betterment of the people of Iran.
Will US presidential election affect the implementation of JCPOA?
It is too early to speculate how the elections in the United States and in Iran will impact the implementation of the JCPOA. Clearly it has been demonstrated that full and complete implementation of the JCPOA is in the national strategic interest of the EU/E3+3, Iran and the international community - and any attempt to undermine the implementation of the JCPOA by any party would be counter-productive to international and regional peace and security. Furthermore, UN Security Council resolution 2231 has formally endorsed the JCPOA and any interference with the implementation of the JCPOA should be regarded as a violation of resolution 2231 and the Security Council should deal with such action.
Tariq Rauf is former Head of the Verification and Security Policy Coordination Office at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Interview by Payman Yazdani
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