On December 13, the Joint Commission of the six world powers and Iran met in Vienna. The participants discussed in detail the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). All members of the Joint Commission reaffirmed their commitment to the consistent fulfilment of the JCPOA, emphasising the need to ensure its efficiency and sustainability in the long-term perspective.

The Joint Commission welcomed Iran’s strict observance of commitments under the comprehensive agreements, which is regularly confirmed by the IAEA – the only international agency that is authorised to monitor Iran’s nuclear programme.

The participants raised issues linked with the implementation of projects on developing the production of stable isotopes at Fordow and upgrading the reactor in Arak, as well as other aspects of the JCPOA aimed at expanding international cooperation with Iran in peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In this context they emphasised the positive results of the international seminar to mark the 25th anniversary of Russian-Iranian cooperation on civilian uses of nuclear energy, which was held in Moscow in October 2017.

They paid special attention to problems linked with the uncertainty surrounding the JCPOA’s future due to the decision of US President Donald Trump not to certify Iran’s strict compliance with it. The members of the Joint Commission unanimously reaffirmed that the JCPOA is built on the fundamental principle of reciprocity that is designed, in particular, to facilitate normalisation of international trade and economic cooperation with Tehran.

The Russian representatives emphasised that neglect of this principle by one party to the agreements threatens the future of the JCPOA, which was endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231.