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Iran says it has halted most sensitive uranium enrichment program U.S., Europe lift some Iran sanctions under nuclear deal
(35 minutes later)
TEHRAN — Iran said Monday that it had halted its most sensitive uranium enrichment work, honoring a deal struck with world powers that has eased concerns over the country’s nuclear program and cleared the way for a partial lifting of sanctions. TEHRAN — Iran said Monday that it had halted its most sensitive uranium-enrichment work, honoring a deal struck with world powers over the country’s nuclear program and clearing the way for a partial lifting of sanctions.
The announcement in Tehran met a Jan. 20 timetable for the move, which is intended to lay groundwork for a broader accord on Iran’s nuclear activities. The Iranian announcement said inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency were present when the enrichment was halted.The announcement in Tehran met a Jan. 20 timetable for the move, which is intended to lay groundwork for a broader accord on Iran’s nuclear activities. The Iranian announcement said inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency were present when the enrichment was halted.
In Washington, the White House issued a statement saying some sanctions on Iran would be lifted. The European Union followed the Iranian announcement with an almost immediate decision to lift some sanctions as part of “a six-month phase of initial confidence-building measures aimed at addressing international concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities.”
“In reciprocation for Iran’s concrete actions, the United States and its P5+1 partners — the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and China, as well as the European Union — will today follow through on our commitment to begin to provide the modest relief agreed to with Iran,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said in the statement. “At the same time, we will continue our aggressive enforcement of the sanctions measures that will remain in place throughout this six-month period.” The decision, which was made by European foreign ministers at a meeting in Brussels, was expected to allow Iran to resume critical exports of oil and gas.
Foreign ministers from the E.U. meeting in Brussels agreed to suspend some sanctions immediately. The White House issued a statement calling Iran’s actions “an important step forward.”
“This is an important day in our pursuit of ensuring that Iran has an exclusively peaceful nuclear program,” E.U. foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told reporters. “In reciprocation for Iran’s concrete actions,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said in a statement, world powers would “today follow through on our commitment to begin to provide the modest relief agreed to with Iran. At the same time, we will continue our aggressive enforcement of the sanctions measures that will remain in place throughout this six-month period.”
There was mixed reaction in Iran to the move, which halted the most sensitive uranium enrichment at nuclear plants in the cities of Natanz and Fordo. Iranian opponents of the deal stepped up their denunciations of what they are calling their country's capitulation to Western demands. In addition to sanctions relief, the Iranian move was expected to trigger the freeing of billions of dollars in assets frozen in Western banks.
Vatan-e Emrooz, a newspaper closely associated with conservatives, printed Monday’s edition in all black type and dedicated it to coverage of what it called Iran's “nuclear holocaust.” There was mixed reaction in Iran to the move, which halted the most sensitive uranium enrichment at nuclear plants in the cities of Natanz and Fordo. Iranian opponents of the deal stepped up their denunciations of what they are calling their country’s capitulation to Western demands.
Vatan-e Emrooz, a newspaper closely associated with conservatives, printed Monday’s edition in all black type and dedicated it to coverage of what it called Iran’s “nuclear holocaust.”
“What we have given up is not only incomparable with what we have received, but much less significant than can be called a win-win situation,” wrote Hossein Shariatmadari, the editor in chief of Kayhan, a newspaper often referred to as the mouthpiece for the most conservative members of Iran’s political establishment.“What we have given up is not only incomparable with what we have received, but much less significant than can be called a win-win situation,” wrote Hossein Shariatmadari, the editor in chief of Kayhan, a newspaper often referred to as the mouthpiece for the most conservative members of Iran’s political establishment.
Criticism of the deal was not unexpected, but opponents of Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, and his administration’s nuclear outreach had been uncharacteristically quiet until now.Criticism of the deal was not unexpected, but opponents of Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, and his administration’s nuclear outreach had been uncharacteristically quiet until now.
Ahmad Tavakoli, a prominent conservative member of parliament, told fellow lawmakers Monday that there were two main problems with the nuclear deal.Ahmad Tavakoli, a prominent conservative member of parliament, told fellow lawmakers Monday that there were two main problems with the nuclear deal.
“First of all, there are so many discrepancies in the text of the agreement that we can hardly be hopeful that our national interests will ever materialize. Second, as officials, we must not reveal our weak points in a way that our enemies can exploit them,” Tavakoli said.“First of all, there are so many discrepancies in the text of the agreement that we can hardly be hopeful that our national interests will ever materialize. Second, as officials, we must not reveal our weak points in a way that our enemies can exploit them,” Tavakoli said.
Despite the intensified conservative backlash, the agreement is supported by many key Iranian political figures, as well as many ordinary Iranians who hope that an easing of sanctions will help reverse their economic woes.Despite the intensified conservative backlash, the agreement is supported by many key Iranian political figures, as well as many ordinary Iranians who hope that an easing of sanctions will help reverse their economic woes.
Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization and a former foreign minister, said in an interview on state television Monday that the deal with world powers over Iran’s nuclear activities was a victory for the Islamic republic.Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization and a former foreign minister, said in an interview on state television Monday that the deal with world powers over Iran’s nuclear activities was a victory for the Islamic republic.
Speaking of Western powers, and the United States in particular, Salehi said: “We know that they have power and do not wish us well. They wanted to put pressure on us with sanctions, but we were able to manage the situation well.”Speaking of Western powers, and the United States in particular, Salehi said: “We know that they have power and do not wish us well. They wanted to put pressure on us with sanctions, but we were able to manage the situation well.”
Salehi, who holds a doctorate in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said Iran does not need to continue the 20 percent sensitive uranium enrichment program to maintain what he said are his country’s peaceful nuclear activities. The deal allows Iran to continue enriching uranium to 5 percent.Salehi, who holds a doctorate in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said Iran does not need to continue the 20 percent sensitive uranium enrichment program to maintain what he said are his country’s peaceful nuclear activities. The deal allows Iran to continue enriching uranium to 5 percent.
“Now the iceberg of sanctions is crumbling while our centrifuges are still also working. This is our greatest achievement,” he said.“Now the iceberg of sanctions is crumbling while our centrifuges are still also working. This is our greatest achievement,” he said.
Early indications show that Iran’s financial markets are responding well to the deal’s implementation as the Iranian currency, the rial, strengthened by more than 2 percent against the dollar Monday.Early indications show that Iran’s financial markets are responding well to the deal’s implementation as the Iranian currency, the rial, strengthened by more than 2 percent against the dollar Monday.