VIENNA: Iran is implementing its side of its nuclear deal with major powers, the UN atomic watchdog policing the pact reaffirmed on Thursday, two weeks after the latest wave of reimposed US sanctions against Tehran took effect.

“Iran is implementing its nuclear-related com­m­itments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA],” Inter­national Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-Gen­eral Yukiya Amano told a quarterly meeting of his agency’s 35-nation Board of Governors.

The JCPOA is the official name of the nuclear accord.

“It is essential that Iran continues to fully implement those commitments,” he added, confirming the findings of a confidential report to IAEA member states last week.

Amano did not comment on the broader impact of US sanctions, the latest round of which took effect on Nov 5. Iran has warned it could scrap the deal if signatories France, Britain and Germany and their allies fail to preserve the economic benefits promised by its terms.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2018