BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 18
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
A statement signed by 200 members of the Iranian parliament in connection with the nuclear talks between Iran and the 4 + 1 group in Vienna, Austria was read today on May 18, Trend reports citing the parliament’s official portal.
According to the statement, the main condition for Iran's adherence to its nuclear obligations is the lifting of all existing sanctions and its accurate assessment.
The statement said that the criterion for accepting and evaluating the results of the discussions between Iran and the member states of the nuclear deal is that the Iranian economy will really benefit from this deal.
“The Iranian parliament is of the opinion that if the sanctions are not lifted 100 percent, it means no sanctions will be lifted. Accepting the validity of some sanctions means confirming the legitimacy of those sanctions,” the statement said.
The Iranian parliament is closely monitoring the implementation of the strategic step law to lift sanctions and protect the interests of the Iranian people. The law marked a significant change in Iran's nuclear program and played an effective role in the discussion process to lift sanctions.
"The parliament urges the Iranian government to comply with all provisions of this law, including the launch of a uranium plant," the statement said.
As reported, the discussions are underway between Iran and the 4+1 group (Russia, China, Britain, France, Germany) in Vienna.
In late 2020, the Iranian parliament has decided to implement a strategic plan to tackle the sanctions, citing the non-implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and six countries and the imposition of sanctions on Iran. According to the decision of the Iranian parliament, as of February 23, Iran suspended the implementation of additional steps and an additional protocol provided for in the nuclear deal.
Iran's Fordow nuclear facility currently produces 17-20 grams of 20-percent enriched uranium per hour.
According to the decision of the Iranian parliament, 1,000 units of IR2M centrifuges must be installed. The operations have been begun in this regard, and more than 320 units of IR2M centrifuges have been installed.
In January 2016, JCPOA was launched between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, UK, France, and Germany) in connection with Iran's nuclear program. In May 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the deal and imposed sanctions on Iran in November of the same year.
To preserve the agreements reached as part of the JCPOA, the European signatories of the deal started in January 2019 that a financial mechanism for maintaining trade with Iran called INSTEX was formed.
On May 8, 2019, Iran announced that it had ceased fulfilling its commitments regarding the sale of over 300 kilograms of uranium, as stated in the deal, basing its decision on the other signatories that have not fulfilled their obligations. On July 7, Iran announced that it will not be fulfilling its commitments regarding the enrichment of uranium at 3.67 percent and the reconstruction of the Arak Heavy Water Reactor Facility as stated in the deal.
Iran announced that it will enrich uranium using next-generation centrifuges and will not mix it with the enriched uranium residues as part of the third step of reducing commitments in JCPOA on Sept.5.
On Nov. 5, 2019, Iran announced that it took the fourth step in connection with reducing its commitments to the nuclear agreement. So, uranium gas is being pumped to the centrifuges at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.
On Jan.2020, Iran took the last fifth step in reducing the number of its commitments within JCPOA.
The US imposed new sanctions on Iran in November 2018. Over the past period, the sanctions affected Iranian oil exports, more than 700 banks, companies, and individuals. The sanctions have resulted in the freezing of Iranian assets abroad.
Iran announced on April 13 that it has begun enriching uranium to 60 percent.