THAT Iran has been faithfully implementing the July deal on its nuclear programme has been confirmed by no less an authority than the world’s nuclear watchdog.

In a secret report for its board of governors, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Tehran had immobilised thousands of centrifuges at two of its atomic reactors and that it seemed to be hastening the pace of the Vienna accord’s implementation.

The Iranian pace of ‘disconnecting’ the centrifuges at its Fordow and Natanz facilities makes sense, because as part of the deal with the P5+1 nations, the several layers of sanctions slapped on Iran must be gradually lifted. So far, according to the IAEA report, Iran has disconnected 4,500 centrifuges at the two nuclear reactors.

Also read: Iran to meet Rouhani timetable on ending sanctions-nuclear chief

This means none of the three sites producing enriched uranium for power production is functioning. Under the Vienna deal, Iran must reduce the number of operational centrifuges from 19,000 to 6,100. Of them, Iran was permitted to use 5,100 for power production.

According to the IAEA report, Iran was able to reduce the number of operational centrifuges in a month’s time — Oct 18 to Nov 15 — even though immobilising the centrifuges is an intricate and time-consuming process.

The nuclear deal was criticised by hardliners, but by and large the Iranian people welcomed the breakthrough made in relations with the West, especially the US, by President Hassan Rouhani.

With parliamentary elections due in February, the Rouhani regime appears keen to carry out its part of the deal, hoping to cash in on the positive impact the easing of the sanctions will have on the Iranian economy.

During the last three years alone, Iran’s oil revenue has gone down by $160bn, and its overseas assets worth $100bn remain frozen.

Once the IAEA officially verifies the Iranian measures, sanctions by the UN, US and the EU will be gradually lifted.

The progress on the implementation of the nuclear accord seems to be the only good news from the charnel house that is the Middle East.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2015