Iran abiding by interim deal with P5+1
By Sara Rajabova
The United States said Iran has not violated the terms of an interim agreement with the six world powers.
U.S. State Department Spokesman, Jen Psaki said Iran is not implementing the activities prohibited by the interim agreement on the works of the new centrifuges IR-5 and after the reports by the IAEA Tehran and Washington could resolve the issue.
Psaki’s remarks came on November 10 following the trilateral two-day high-level meeting of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and European Union’s (EU) envoy, Catherine Ashton in Omani capital Muscat.
Recently, a U.S. think-tank said Iran may have violated the interim nuclear deal with world powers by stepping up efforts to develop a machine that could enrich uranium faster.
The Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), cited a finding in a new report by IAEA about Iran, issued on November 7. It said Iran had "intermittently" been feeding natural uranium gas into a single so-called IR-5 centrifuge at a research facility.
“IAEA data show that Iran's low-enriched uranium stocks rose in early September at 8 percent. The Iranian side, according to the agency, has not yet taken any step to address the concerns of Western countries on the possible military dimensions of its nuclear program,” she said at daily briefing.
It was also reported that Iran tested a new centrifuges IR-5, one of several new models that the country has been seeking to develop to replace IR-1 centrifuge that it is now using to produce refined uranium.
"We have discussed this matter with the Iranian side as soon as the IAEA reported it. And the question was settled immediately. The Iranians have confirmed that they will not continue that activity as cited in the IAEA report, so it’s been resolved,” Psaki said.
She also stressed her statement "does not mean that Iran has violated the provisions of the interim agreement reached in November 2013," adding that IAEA is not published yet a formal report with similar statements against Iran.
Iran, the U.S. and the EU have concluded two days of high-level talks on Tehran’s nuclear energy program without tangible progress on November 10.
Last November, Iran and the P5+1 group of countries clinched an interim nuclear accord, which took effect on January 20 and expired six months later. However, they agreed to extend their talks until November 24 as they remained divided on a number of key issues.
The recent talks are part of preparations for formal negotiations in Vienna on November 18 between Iran and the group known as P5 + 1 - Germany, Russia, China, France, the U.K. and the U.S.
Differences remain over the scope of the country’s uranium enrichment program, how and when to lift economic sanctions, and how long Iran’s nuclear program must remain under international inspections and safeguards.
Iran says its nuclear program is solely for energy and medical purposes and rejects allegations that its nuclear work is a cover to build atomic weapons.