The most recent International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on Iran's implementation of the nuclear agreement noted that Iran is manufacturing rotor tubes for centrifuges. The IAEA is undertaking "related technical discussions" with Iran on this production, which is restricted by the agreement.
News Briefs
September 6, 2016
The Obama administration sent an additional $1.3 billion in cash to Iran, following a $400 million payment that U.S. officials have acknowledged was used as leverage for the release of prisoners. The $1.3 billion came in two separate installments of Swiss francs, euros, and other currencies collected by Iran in Switzerland on January 22 and February 5. The Obama Administration said the $1.3 billion was additional interest from the settlement of a 1979 arms deal with Iran.
-- Wall Street Journal
September 3, 2016
Two leading Iranian banks have declined to engage in transactions with companies affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to a report in the Iranian hard-line daily newspaper Kayhan. Bank Mellat reportedly refused to transfer foreign currency on behalf of Khatam al-Anbia, an IRGC-owned group of companies that is the largest contractor for government construction. The report also stated that Bank Sepah, a state-owned financial institution, declined to provide a letter of guarantee for a firm affiliated with Khatam al-Anbia. Both banks cited the international sanctions imposed on the companies, according to the report.
-- Associated Press
August 29, 2016
Iran has deployed the Russian-made S-300 air defense system around its formerly secret underground nuclear facility at Fordow, according to Iranian state media. Iran has halted uranium enrichment at Fordow since the implementation in January of the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and six world powers.
-- Reuters
August 22, 2016
Iran revoked permission for Russian airplanes to use an Iranian base for launching airstrikes in Syria, a week after having granted Russia access. Russian Tupolev and Sukhoi bombers had started flying missions into Syria from the Hamadan base in western Iran, the first time foreign forces had been based in Iran since World War II. Iran's Defense Minister, Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan, criticized Russia's excessive publicity for the basing deal.
-- New York Times
August 18, 2016
The State Department stated on August 18 that it delayed a $400 million payment to Iran on January 17 in order "to retain maximum leverage" and ensure the release of three American prisoners who were freed the same day. The Obama administration denied the payment was a "ransom" and said it was the first installment of a legal settlement with Iran related to arms purchases that the United States never fulfilled. The prisoner release was a separately negotiated agreement, according to the administration, but the timing of the two transactions became linked in an effort to resolve a series of issues between the United States and Iran on the same day.
-- New York Times
August 7, 2016
The Iranian government confirmed on August 7 that it had executed Shahram Amiri, an Iranian nuclear scientist who spent about 14 months in the United States in 2009 and 2010. The Iranian judiciary stated that Amiri had been hanged for disclosing state secrets. After disappearing from Saudi Arabia sometime in 2009, Amiri reportedly defected to the United States and shared intelligence with US authorities on Iran's nuclear program. In July 2010, Amiri returned to Tehran, where he was reportedly imprisoned and tortured.
-- Guardian
July 20, 2016
The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on three senior al-Qaida members located in Iran: Faisal Jassim Mohammed Al-Amri Al-Khalidi, Yisra Muhammad Ibrahim Bayumi, and Abu Bakr Muhammad Muhammad Ghumayn. The men have been involved in financial, military, communications, and logistics roles in the terrorist organization.
-- U.S. Department of the Treasury
July 18, 2016
Russia has delivered the first shipment of missiles for the S-300 air defense system to Iran. The missiles indicate that Russia is selling Iran the advanced S-300 PMU2 version. Iran displayed parts of this system during a military parade in April and plans to have the system operational by March 2017.
July 18, 2016
A document outlining Iran's long-term uranium enrichment plan, which was obtained by the Associated Press, reveals Iran's intention to expand its enrichment program after the first ten years of the nuclear agreement. According to the document, Iran will install between 2,500 and 3,500 advanced centrifuges--five times as efficient as the machines currently installed--between years 11 and 13 of the deal. These advanced centrifuges will allow Iran to produce weapons grade uranium more quickly, reducing Iran's "breakout" time. The document, which was approved by the United States and five other world powers as part of the nuclear agreement, was submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency but has not been made public.
-- Associated Press