UN watchdog confirms Iran nuclear freeze–diplomats

A worker rides a bicycle in front of the reactor building of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, just outside the southern city of Bushehr, Iran. AP File photo

VIENNA — The UN atomic watchdog has confirmed that Iran’s partial nuclear freeze, part of a landmark deal with world powers struck in November, began on Monday as planned, diplomats told AFP.

“It’s all fine, all their requirements have been fulfilled,” one envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency said in Vienna, in comments echoed by other diplomats.

The diplomats said that an IAEA report had been sent to member states confirming the start of the freeze.

The IAEA declined to comment.

Under the terms of the November 24 deal, Iran has pledged to limit uranium enrichment to low purities for a period of six months, convert its medium-enriched uranium and not make further advances at its nuclear facilities.

In exchange Western powers will slightly loosen crippling sanctions in a package worth between $6-7, according to the White House, including $4.2 billion in frozen overseas foreign exchange assets in eight instalments starting February 1.

During the six months, Iran and the P5+1 powers — the US, China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany — are due to hammer out a long-term “comprehensive accord” aimed at ending once and for all the standoff over Iran’s nuclear work.

This six-month period can however be extended by mutual agreement. According to the November 24 interim deal, the parties aim to conclude negotiating and begin implementing it within a year.