Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 3
By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has said Tehran has not yet removed any centrifuges from its Natanz and Fordow nuclear facilities.
"No centrifuges have been removed, so far, but the atomic organization is making preparations for carrying out the task. The process of removing the centrifuges may start in the coming days," Araqchi said during a live televised interview carried by Iran's state TV on Nov. 2 in Tehran.
In a letter released on Nov. 1, some 20 Iranian MPs said Tehran has begun removing centrifuges from the Natanz and Fordow nuclear sites and urged President Hassan Rouhani to stop their removal.
"The implementation of the JCPOA is as important as the agreement itself. We should make efforts to block all paths for the Americans and the Europeans to organize conspiracies and avoid lifting the sanctions," Araqchi said, referring to the importance of implementing the JCPOA.
Responding to the question of whether Iran has begun implementing the JCPOA, he said, "Yes it has been started".
Then, Araqchi touched upon the conditions set by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei concerning the implementation of the JCPOA, noting that the first condition has been fulfilled.
In his letter addressing President Hassan Rouhani, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei demanded that Western countries issue firm guarantees and provide proof that all economic sanctions will be removed once Iran complied with the terms of the nuclear agreement.
"Although, in our opinion, the required guarantees have apparently been issued, our lawyers are reviewing the US and EU documents, which include President Barack Obama's letter, the EU Council of Minister's approval and US secretary of state John Kerry's statement," he said.
Araqchi further said he does not see any problems from the Americans regarding the removal of the Western-imposed sanctions on Iran, and if problems appear Iran will ask the US to resolve them.
Iran and the P5+1 group of countries agreed on July 14 to implement the JCPOA to curb Tehran's nuclear program, in exchange for the lifting of most international sanctions.