On July 14, 2015, the P5+1, the European Union, and Iran reached a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to ensure that Iran’s nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, along with the other foreign ministers from the P5+1 and Iran, as well as the EU High Representative, this week signed a JCPOA document for the redesign and reconstruction of Iran’s Arak nuclear reactor.
“We welcome the release yesterday of the document outlining the expected roles by all of the participants to the JCPOA in regard to the redesign and reconstruction of Iran’s Arak nuclear reactor,” said the Department in a statement.
“This document is an important step towards operationalizing Iran’s commitments under the JCPOA regarding the Arak reactor, and is one of many that Iran is completing before Implementation Day. That will occur when the IAEA verifies that Iran has completed all of the required nuclear steps specified in the text of the JCPOA.”
The document lays out a framework for the participants to carry out the technical aspects of the project, and includes the expected roles to be played by the participants.
The United States has committed to provide technical support and review of the modernized reactor design, as well as analysis of fuel design and safety standards—consistent with national laws—to ensure it addresses proliferation concerns and conforms with the design set forth in the JCPOA.
In addition, the United States will co-chair with China a Working Group on the Arak project.