Iran's foreign minister and chief nuclear negotiator reported to Parliament on Wednesday November 27 about the nuclear negotiations with the 5+1.
Mohammad Javad Zarif's explanations managed to soften the tone of many critical MPs. He examined the provisions of the agreement signed last Sunday in Geneva, saying Iran's commitments in the agreement will preserve the major aspects of the country's nuclear program.
He stressed that the agreement does not contain tools for monitoring the implementation of its provisions. The monitoring would, therefore, be done by the parties themselves and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
He stressed that Iran's right to peaceful exploitation of nuclear power has been stated in the NPT and the text of the Geneva agreement. In terms of transparency, Iran has announced that it will not pursue nuclear weapons, which Zarif added is already established since the leader of the country, Ayatollah Khamenei, has said that it is forbidden.
Zarif continued by saying that there will be no more fresh sanctions on Iran, and Iran will continue uranium enrichment at the 5 percent grade while halting any further developments at the Natanz and Ferdo plants. Zarif said the Iranian party also agreed to no more new centrifuges at the Arak plant and no more new plants anywhere.
Zarif said the concessions made by his team are, therefore, matters that halt new additions to Iran’s nuclear program without diminishing its integrity.
In terms of IAEA visits, he said there is nothing new, since inspectors are already monitoring activities at the Natanz and Ferdo plants two or three times a week.
He said, however, that the EU and the U.S. have agreed in return to suspend sanctions on insurance, transportation regarding oil, precious stones, and petrochemical goods, as well as sanctions on security services for aircraft.
He maintained that the agreement is a balanced document that preserves Iran’s interests in the current situation.
