Haley: Russia Making JCPOA an ‘Empty Promise’

U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Russia's interference is making it less likely the Iran nuclear deal can continue.

If the Iran nuclear deal is to have any meaning, the parties must have a common understanding of its terms. Iranian officials have already said they will refuse to allow inspections at military sites, even though the IAEA‎ says there must be no distinction between military and non-military sites. Now it appears that some countries are attempting to shield Iran from even more inspections. Without inspections, the Iran deal is an empty promise.

The U.S. Mission to the UN said the statement was precipitated by a Reuters report that International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Yukiya Amano has confirmed the agency is seeking “more clarification” on inspection and verification. This refers to Section T of the JCPOA, a provision that bans activities that could “contribute to the design and development of a nuclear explosive device.”

Russia’s ambassador has stated his nation does not believe those inspections are within the IAEA’s mandate with regard to Iran. The U.S. has said repeatedly that Iran must open its military facilities to inspectors.

US presses for more Iran nuclear inspections

US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley pushes for more nuclear inspections in Iran

UNITED NATIONS, AFP, 28 September 2017--  The United States pressed Thursday for the International Atomic Energy Agency to carry out more nuclear inspections in Iran, warning that failure to do so would make the nuclear deal with Tehran 'an empty promise.'

US Ambassador to the United Nations , Nikki Haley, said that some countries were trying to shield Iran from more inspections by the IAEA, which is charged with verifying Tehran's compliance with the 2015 nuclear accord.

'Without inspections, the Iran deal is an empty promise,' she said in a statement.

Haley's push for more inspections comes just 15 days before Trump must certify to the US Congress whether Iran is in compliance with the agreement.

'If the Iran nuclear deal is to have any meaning, the parties must have a common understanding of its terms,' Haley said in a statement.

'Iranian officials have already said they will refuse to allow inspections at military sites, even though the IAEA? says there must be no distinction between military and non-military sites.

'Now it appears that some countries are attempting to shield Iran from even more inspections.'

Although she named no countries, diplomatic sources said she was referring to Russia.

IAEA CHIEF CALLS FOR CLARITY ON DISPUTED SECTION OF IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL

VIENNA, Reuters, SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 - The U.N. nuclear watchdog’s chief urged major powers on Tuesday to clarify a part of their nuclear deal with Iran dealing with technology that could be used to develop an atom bomb, an area Russia said the agency should leave alone.The 2015 pact between six major powers and Iran restricts its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Compliance with those curbs is being verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano has defended the deal as a major step forward while declining to comment specifically on criticism of it by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called the accord - reached by predecessor Barack Obama - “an embarrassment to the United States”.

But while Nikki Haley, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, has infuriated Tehran by saying the IAEA should widen its inspections to include military sites, diplomats say Russia has been trying to restrict the agency’s role by arguing it has no authority to police a broadly worded section of the deal.

That section bans “activities which could contribute to the development of a nuclear explosive device”. It lists examples such as using computer models that simulate a nuclear bomb, or designing multi-point, explosive detonation systems.

Unlike many other parts of the deal, the provision, known as Section T, makes no mention of the IAEA or specifics of how it will be verified. Russia says that means the IAEA has no authority over it. Western powers and the agency disagree.

ISJ Publishes Report Detailing a 'Review of Iran's Nuclear Weapons-Related Conduct in the Last Two Years'

BRUSSELS, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Committee In Search of Justice (ISJ), a Brussels based NGO, has published a new research report titled "Review of Iran's Nuclear Weapons-Related Conduct: Two years after the implementation of JCPOA and IAEA report on Possible Military Dimensions of Iranian nuclear program."  

(http://isjcommittee.com/2017/09/isj-report-review-irans-nuclear-weapons)

Focusing on the past two years, the 24-page report drew upon publicly available information including the nuclear agreement (JCPOA), particularly its T-section, Tehran's position and replies in reference to "Final Assessment of IAEA on Past and Present Outstanding  Issues regarding Iran's Nuclear Program", evidence of Iran's illegal procurements for its nuclear weapon and  missiles programs, reports of its ballistic missile tests, and the April 2017 revelations by the opposition group,  the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) regarding a previously unknown location that might be involved in the nuclear weapons program.

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This month marks the second anniversary of the conclusion of the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the permanent members of the UN Security Council. The parties involved now have an opportunity to review the effectiveness of the deal and how well it serves their interests.This month marks the second anniversary of the conclusion of the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the permanent members of the UN Security Council. The parties involved now have an opportunity to review the effectiveness of the deal and how well it serves their interests.

As far as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can tell, Tehran is just about complying with the deal in terms of the requisite restrictions on its nuclear enrichment. However, the agreement did not permit comprehensive access for international inspections.

Iran’s nuclear chief, Ali Akbar Salehi has publicly declared that the Islamic Republic is prepared to resume its nuclear enrichment at an even higher level than prior to the implementation of the JCPOA, if the U.S. or other Western powers increase sanctions due to issues such as ballistic missile testing.