Brussels, 18/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 18 January, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said she thought the entry into force of the agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme would pave new ways for bilateral cooperation.
At the end of the Foreign Affairs Council at which she informed the European foreign ministers of implementation of the agreement, Mogherini announced that a delegation with the European Commission vice-presidents and commissioners would go to Iran in the spring to discuss aspects of cooperation that could be developed. She stated that she and the ministers thought that the implementation was a “turning point” for stability and security in the region.
At the time of the agreement entering into force on Saturday, Mogherini and Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who were in Vienna, described the implementation as “historic”. “All sides remain firmly convinced that this historic deal is both strong and fair, and that it meets the requirements of all; its proper implementation will be a key contribution to improved regional and international peace, stability and security”, they said. In their view, this “achievement” demonstrates that with political will, perseverance, and through multilateral diplomacy, it is possible to solve the most difficult issues. This must be kept in mind in the efforts to make the world a safer place, Mogherini and Zarif added.
Although diplomats from throughout the world hailed the implementation of the agreement, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on 17 January that Israel would “not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons”. He was convinced that Tehran had not abandoned its ambitions to have nuclear weapons. “Israel will continue to monitor all international violations by Iran including the nuclear deal, the agreement on ballistic missiles and terrorism”, he stated.
Implementation leads to lifting of international sanctions. On Saturday 16 January, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) deemed that Iran had implemented the measures linked to the Iranian nuclear programme. The measures were contained in the joint comprehensive plan of action (JCPOA) of 14 July and their implementation has led to a number of sanctions against Iran from the United Nations, the EU and the USA being lifted.
“We have reached Implementation Day of the JCPOA (…) Six months after finalisation of the historic deal, the IAEA has verified that Iran has implemented its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA”, said Mogherini and Zarif in a joint press release on 16 January.
“As Iran has fulfilled its commitments”, Mogherini and Zarif announced the lifting of multilateral and national economic and financial sanctions related to Iran's nuclear programme, in accordance with the JCPOA.
Alongside Mogherini and Zarif's announcement, the Council of the EU announced the lifting of the EU's economic and financial sanctions linked to Iran's nuclear programme. The legal acts that had already been adopted on 18 October 2015 (the official adoption day of the agreement) entered into force and were published in the Official Journal of the EU on 16 January.
The EU has thus withdrawn 36 people and 295 entities (including around 15 banks) from the list of people and entities subject to an assets freeze and visa ban in the EU. In total, along with the UN and USA, 550 people and entities have been withdrawn from the list of those sanctioned. The EU has also lifted the ban on financial transfers to and from Iran. Iranian banks can now be connected to the Swift system. The import, purchase, trade and transport of crude oil and oil products, gas and petrochemical products from Iran are authorised, as is the supply of equipment, technology and technical assistance. Sanctions linked to the shipping and transport sector have also been lifted, as have those on gold and other precious metals, bank notes and coins.
For the UN, only Resolution 2231 dating from July 2015 (which endorsed the JCPOA) and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons remain in the international legal framework linked to Iran's nuclear activities - thus putting an end to the arrangements contained in seven resolutions adopted between 2006 and 2015. The USA also lifted some of its sanctions, including extraterritorial measures. However, Washington announced the implementation of new sanctions against Tehran the same day, in connection with Iran's ballistic missiles programme.
The E3+3 countries (France, Germany, the UK and China, the USA and Russia), the EU and Iran will also cooperate on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, in the framework of the JCPOA.
The “full and effective” implementation of the JCPOA will continue to be closely monitored by the Joint Commission, comprising the E3+3 and Iran, and coordinated by the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mogherini and Zarif stated. The IAEA is entrusted with the responsibility for the monitoring and verification of the JCPOA as well as of Iran's obligations as a party to Non-Proliferation Treaty. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)