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| Iran Says it Suspends Enrichment Under Deal With Powers | |
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| TEHRAN — Senior officials said on Monday that Iran had begun suspending its most advanced nuclear enrichment as part of a deal with world powers from which Tehran is expecting positive economic changes with the lifting of some sanctions. | TEHRAN — Senior officials said on Monday that Iran had begun suspending its most advanced nuclear enrichment as part of a deal with world powers from which Tehran is expecting positive economic changes with the lifting of some sanctions. |
| Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, arrived in Tehran two days ago to begin validating the deal, according to Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, in a statement reported by the state-financed broadcaster Press TV. | Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, arrived in Tehran two days ago to begin validating the deal, according to Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, in a statement reported by the state-financed broadcaster Press TV. |
| The interim agreement, struck in broad outline in Geneva in November, was finalized eight days ago after seven weeks of negotiations over its implementation. It will temporarily freeze much of Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for limited relief from the Western economic sanctions and is set to last for six months, giving Iran and the six other countries involved, the so-called P5-plus-1 — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States — time to negotiate a permanent deal. | The interim agreement, struck in broad outline in Geneva in November, was finalized eight days ago after seven weeks of negotiations over its implementation. It will temporarily freeze much of Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for limited relief from the Western economic sanctions and is set to last for six months, giving Iran and the six other countries involved, the so-called P5-plus-1 — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States — time to negotiate a permanent deal. |
| If Iran starts diluting parts of its stockpile of uranium that has been enriched up to 20 percent, which is short of weapons grade, it will be rewarded with the release of some of its funds that have been frozen abroad, up to $4.2 billion. | If Iran starts diluting parts of its stockpile of uranium that has been enriched up to 20 percent, which is short of weapons grade, it will be rewarded with the release of some of its funds that have been frozen abroad, up to $4.2 billion. |
| On Monday, the inspectors would “monitor the removal of connections between cascades of centrifuges” at two principal enrichment sites — Natanz and Fordo — “which will result in the suspension of 20 percent uranium enrichment,” Press TV quoted Mr. Salehi as saying. | On Monday, the inspectors would “monitor the removal of connections between cascades of centrifuges” at two principal enrichment sites — Natanz and Fordo — “which will result in the suspension of 20 percent uranium enrichment,” Press TV quoted Mr. Salehi as saying. |
| Mohammad Amiri, head of safeguard affairs at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, told the official IRNA news agency that Tehran “has suspended the production of 20 percent enriched uranium in the Fordo and Natanz sites.” Mr. Amiri is also a member of Iran’s nuclear negotiating team. | Mohammad Amiri, head of safeguard affairs at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, told the official IRNA news agency that Tehran “has suspended the production of 20 percent enriched uranium in the Fordo and Natanz sites.” Mr. Amiri is also a member of Iran’s nuclear negotiating team. |
| At its headquarters in Vienna, the International Atomic Energy Agency said it would not comment publicly Monday on its inspectors’ activities in Iran related to what is called the joint plan of action agreed in the negotiations. | At its headquarters in Vienna, the International Atomic Energy Agency said it would not comment publicly Monday on its inspectors’ activities in Iran related to what is called the joint plan of action agreed in the negotiations. |
| According to the November agreement, international monitors will be allowed to visit the Natanz enrichment facility and the underground nuclear enrichment plant at Fordo to check the film from cameras installed there. But Iran did not agree to all of the intrusive inspection regime that the International Atomic Energy Agency had said was needed to ensure that the Iranian program is peaceful. | According to the November agreement, international monitors will be allowed to visit the Natanz enrichment facility and the underground nuclear enrichment plant at Fordo to check the film from cameras installed there. But Iran did not agree to all of the intrusive inspection regime that the International Atomic Energy Agency had said was needed to ensure that the Iranian program is peaceful. |
| Western powers have long contended that Iran’s nuclear program is designed to secure the technology to make atomic weapons, but Tehran says its purposes are purely peaceful. | Western powers have long contended that Iran’s nuclear program is designed to secure the technology to make atomic weapons, but Tehran says its purposes are purely peaceful. |
| Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, who has played a central role in the negotiations, said on Monday in Brussels that she hoped the Iranian actions on Monday would lead to a new round of talks on a permanent agreement within weeks. | Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, who has played a central role in the negotiations, said on Monday in Brussels that she hoped the Iranian actions on Monday would lead to a new round of talks on a permanent agreement within weeks. |
| “Depending on how things work out today, I hope that we will start talks within the next few weeks,” she said, Reuters reported. Ms. Ashton was speaking before a meeting of the European Union’s 28 foreign ministers who are to decide on easing sanctions on Iran. | “Depending on how things work out today, I hope that we will start talks within the next few weeks,” she said, Reuters reported. Ms. Ashton was speaking before a meeting of the European Union’s 28 foreign ministers who are to decide on easing sanctions on Iran. |
| In Washington, the State Department said in a statement on Monday: “Today, the International Atomic Energy Agency provided a report on the current status of Iran’s nuclear activities, focused on the steps Iran has committed to take by or on the first day of implementation of the joint plan of action. The United States, our P5+1 partners, and the E.U. are now studying this report. We will have further public comment after all parties have had the opportunity to review the report.” | In Washington, the State Department said in a statement on Monday: “Today, the International Atomic Energy Agency provided a report on the current status of Iran’s nuclear activities, focused on the steps Iran has committed to take by or on the first day of implementation of the joint plan of action. The United States, our P5+1 partners, and the E.U. are now studying this report. We will have further public comment after all parties have had the opportunity to review the report.” |
| Reuters reported that the document from the International Atomic Energy Agency Inspectors said Iran has halted its most sensitive nuclear activity, paving the way for the easing of some Western sanctions. | Reuters reported that the document from the International Atomic Energy Agency Inspectors said Iran has halted its most sensitive nuclear activity, paving the way for the easing of some Western sanctions. |
| Iranian leaders, including some hard-liners, have welcomed the deal, which allows the nation to freely export petrochemical products, have sanctions lifted on gold and precious metals, and create a special banking channel to facilitate payments for goods like food and medicine. These products were not affected by sanctions in the past but could not be paid for because of restrictions on all international financial transactions with Iran. | Iranian leaders, including some hard-liners, have welcomed the deal, which allows the nation to freely export petrochemical products, have sanctions lifted on gold and precious metals, and create a special banking channel to facilitate payments for goods like food and medicine. These products were not affected by sanctions in the past but could not be paid for because of restrictions on all international financial transactions with Iran. |
| “Through these talks in Geneva, we are heading in a direction in which not only the sanctions are being lifted, but also Iran’s political isolation is coming to an end,” Mohammad Sadr, an adviser to Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, told the Iranian Student News Agency on Sunday. | “Through these talks in Geneva, we are heading in a direction in which not only the sanctions are being lifted, but also Iran’s political isolation is coming to an end,” Mohammad Sadr, an adviser to Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, told the Iranian Student News Agency on Sunday. |
| “It will take time, but these two fundamental problems will be solved,” he said. | “It will take time, but these two fundamental problems will be solved,” he said. |
| Describing Iran’s economy as having its arms and legs tied to “the ropes of the sanctions,” President Hassan Rouhani said last week that he expected the economy to improve under the deal. | Describing Iran’s economy as having its arms and legs tied to “the ropes of the sanctions,” President Hassan Rouhani said last week that he expected the economy to improve under the deal. |
| “One of these ropes will be cut,” Mr. Rouhani said, according to state television. “Over all, in my opinion, we will witness a positive, acceptable and outstanding change in the country’s economic sector in the next six months.” | “One of these ropes will be cut,” Mr. Rouhani said, according to state television. “Over all, in my opinion, we will witness a positive, acceptable and outstanding change in the country’s economic sector in the next six months.” |
| Mr. Rouhani is scheduled to address the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, and he is expected to highlight the opportunities the Iranian market has to offer. | Mr. Rouhani is scheduled to address the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, and he is expected to highlight the opportunities the Iranian market has to offer. |
| Critics of the deal in Congress and elsewhere are warning that the limited sanction relief offered to Iran by the Obama administration will undermine the intended effect of the measures, which was to force Iran into a compromise over its nuclear program. The critics say that easing the sanctions could lead to an end of the Islamic republic’s international isolation, which, they say, is what brought the Iranians to the negotiating table in the first place. | Critics of the deal in Congress and elsewhere are warning that the limited sanction relief offered to Iran by the Obama administration will undermine the intended effect of the measures, which was to force Iran into a compromise over its nuclear program. The critics say that easing the sanctions could lead to an end of the Islamic republic’s international isolation, which, they say, is what brought the Iranians to the negotiating table in the first place. |
| Austrian Airlines announced last week that it was resuming flights to Iran after a one-year break forced by the sanctions, and several European political and trade delegations have visited the country in recent weeks. | Austrian Airlines announced last week that it was resuming flights to Iran after a one-year break forced by the sanctions, and several European political and trade delegations have visited the country in recent weeks. |
| Inside Iran, some hard-liners are complaining that the government is trying to silence critics of the deal, which some here say was a loss for the Iranians. | Inside Iran, some hard-liners are complaining that the government is trying to silence critics of the deal, which some here say was a loss for the Iranians. |
| “Criticizing the Geneva agreement is like denying the Holocaust,” said Hamid Rasaei, a hard-line member of Parliament, according to the semiofficial Fars news agency. His newspaper and another weekly were closed after they spoke out against the agreement, said Mr. Rasaei, a Shiite Muslim cleric. “Anybody who dares to speak out against parts of the agreement will be confronted,” he said. | “Criticizing the Geneva agreement is like denying the Holocaust,” said Hamid Rasaei, a hard-line member of Parliament, according to the semiofficial Fars news agency. His newspaper and another weekly were closed after they spoke out against the agreement, said Mr. Rasaei, a Shiite Muslim cleric. “Anybody who dares to speak out against parts of the agreement will be confronted,” he said. |
| Mr. Rouhani, in a speech broadcast nationally on Thursday, warned that some people in the country did not want the sanctions to be lifted, accusing them of benefiting politically and economically from the measures. | Mr. Rouhani, in a speech broadcast nationally on Thursday, warned that some people in the country did not want the sanctions to be lifted, accusing them of benefiting politically and economically from the measures. |
| “I have a lot to say, but today is not the right time,” he said. “But a group of people are against the establishment of normal conditions in the country because of their own interests and that of their group.” | “I have a lot to say, but today is not the right time,” he said. “But a group of people are against the establishment of normal conditions in the country because of their own interests and that of their group.” |