Nuclear watchdog closes Iranian weapons probe

ANKARA

The world’s nuclear watchdog on Tuesday announced the end of its investigation into Iran’s suspected nuclear weapons program.

The declaration by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which found no evidence of Iran trying to develop nuclear weapons in the last six years, paves the way towards lifting UN, EU and U.S. sanctions against Iran.

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said Iran’s weapons program had not gone beyond “feasibility and scientific studies” and the acquisition of technical equipment.

He added: “The agency has no credible indications of activities in Iran relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device after 2009.”

The possibility of lifting sanctions was agreed between Iran and world powers in Vienna in July and hinged on the IAEA’s findings.

Amano said the next step would be to implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and the P5+1 countries - the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany.

“Much work lies ahead of us. All parties must fully implement their commitments under the JCPOA,” Amano said. “Considerable effort was required in order to reach this agreement. A similar and sustained effort will be required to implement it."

Iranian officials welcomed the announcement. “Finally, after 12 years... the issue of military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program now belongs to history,” Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said, according to Tasnim news agency.

In Washington, Secretary of State John Kerry welcomed the decision, saying it set the stage for the full implementation of the nuclear accord.

“The focus now appropriately moves toward full implementation of the JCPOA and its enhanced verification and transparency regime,” he said.

However, he warned it would not preclude a future investigation “if there is reason to believe Iran is pursuing any covert nuclear activities in the future, as it had in the past”.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the JCPOA will begin to be implemented within three weeks.

The IAEA called on Iran to continue to cooperate over access to nuclear facilities.