He says Iran will sign an agreement with China to modify the Arak reactor, a deal that is expected next week.
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Iran has removed the core of its heavy water nuclear reactor at Arak and filled it with cement as part of its efforts to fulfill its obligations under the nuclear deal finalized in July, the country’s official Fars news agency reported Monday. “The date is going to be related to the full implementation of all the steps that need to be taken”, she said at a news conference after meeting Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek.
“The implementation of the agreements is proceeding well, it’s encouraging”, she added. The United States should take a more assertive role by doing more to reassure our Arab partners and pushing back on bad Iranian behavior, while keeping the door open for cooperation with Iran on issues where we share common interests. Nonetheless, overall media reports seem to indicate that this skepticism is now relegated to the minority.
However, the administration is determined to knock down any obstacles blocking the path to Implementation Day.
The Obama administration has not counted out new sanctions, but prefers for now to pressure Iran through the United Nations. “A strong bipartisan vote would send a message to the President that it doesn’t matter who supports the deal or not, America will be safer if we keep Iran in line when it violates worldwide agreements”. The EU sanctions relief will be more extensive and will allow the resumption of significant trade with Iran. No such sanctions have been issued yet, however, and the State Department has declined to say whether Secretary of State John Kerry intervened to make sure nothing got in the way of the Iran nuclear accord taking effect.
In exchange for Iran’s adherence to these terms, the UN Security Council members have agreed to reduce sanctions on the Islamic Republic. But Republicans are naturally skeptical about whether this authority would have any practical impact. The short answer is that the Obama administration should do both.
According to the Journal, Iranian opposition leaders covertly reached out to the White House in 2009 to determine whether it would support the Green Movement, which saw millions of Iranians demonstrate against the allegedly fraudulent victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in that year’s presidential elections.
Congressional Democrats – even those who oppose the deal – have also refused to support the legislation.
Following the announcement of the delay last week, seven House Democrats, including Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz – another JCPOA supporter – wrote a letter urging Obama to respond to the missile tests.
In December, they received more ammunition in the form of Iran’s decision to “test fire” unguided rockets in the proximity of U.S. naval vessels.
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“In removing the core of the reactor, Iran has moved past the point of no return”, said Kelsey Davenport, director of nonproliferation policy at the Arms Control Association.
