Washington to Renew Waivers on Tehran Nuclear Work, Sanction AEOI

Washington will allow Russian, Chinese and European firms to proceed work at Iranian nuclear sites to make it harder for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. However, it will impose sanctions on its nuclear entity and top official, sources said on Thursday.

The US administration pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal and re-imposed sanctions on Iran in 2018. Under the 2015 deal, Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of economic sanctions that had crippled its economy.

However, according to the sources, US will allow the work to continue by issuing waivers to sanctions that bar non-US firms from dealing with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).

The waivers’ renewal for 60 days will allow non-proliferation work to continue at the Arak heavy water research reactor, the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the Tehran Research Reactor and other nuclear cooperation initiatives, Reuters reported.

“There was a difference of opinion between the US Treasury and State Department. The Treasury won,” said a Western diplomat familiar with the issue.

“There is an appetite for more sanctions so this was a surprise, but others argue that these waivers are vital to ensure non-proliferation.”

Meanwhile, a US official confirmed the waivers.

The official and diplomat said that Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), and the organization as a whole would be placed under US sanctions.

The US State Department is expected to make an announcement later on Thursday.

Washington in November terminated the sanctions waiver related to Iran’s Fordow nuclear plant after Tehran resumed uranium enrichment at the underground site.

According to Reuters, the decision to sanction Salehi and the AEOI would have an impact on Iran’s nuclear civilian programme because it has operational control over the programme, including purchasing parts for nuclear facilities.