IAEA says Iran respecting nuclear deal weeks after US bans reinstated

The United Nations' nuclear watchdog confirms Iran's full compliance with its end of the 2015 multinational nuclear deal, despite the US's internationally-criticized withdrawal from the landmark accord and the ensuing re-imposition of its unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Addressing a quarterly meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s Board of Governors on Thursday, the Agency's Director General Yukiya Amano said, "Iran is implementing its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)," referring to the deal by its official name.

The IAEA chief further called on Iran to continue fully respecting the landmark accord, which Washington scrapped back in May despite strong criticisms from the other signatories -- France, the UK, Germany, Russia and China -- as well as the entire world community.

"The Agency continues to verify the non-diversion of nuclear material declared by Iran under its Safeguards Agreement. Evaluations regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran continue," added Amano in the Iran section of his speech.

The agency under Amano's watch is tasked with monitoring the technical aspects of the nuclear deal's implementation.

The IAEA's latest report comes about two weeks after the US administration finished restoring all the anti-Iran sanctions it had lifted under the JCPOA, which has been ratified by UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

SS