The Geneva Joint Plan Of Action According To Iranian President Rohani And Iranian FM Zarif

"The right to enrich uranium on Iranian soil is the right of the Iranian nation and everyone can interpret it as they wish... The text states explicitly that Iran will continue to enrich [uranium], and for this reason I say to the Iranian nation that the uranium enrichment activity in Iran will continue as in the past."
– Iranian President Hassan Rohani, November 24, 2013

Following the announcement of the signing of the Joint Plan of Action in Geneva between Iran and the 5+1 group, Iranian President Hassan Rohani, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, and Iranian negotiating team head Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi gave their versions of the content of the agreement.

An examination of the agreement shows that these statements by Iranian officials are indeed based on the text of the agreement, while statements by U.S. administration spokesmen are not.[1]

Below are the main points of the statements by Iranian officials:

1. The Right To Enrich Uranium

President Rohani said at a November 24 press conference (view the MEMRI TV clip of his statements in Farsi here): "The results of these talks is that the 5+1, or in other words the world powers, have officially recognized Iran's nuclear rights... the right to enrich [uranium] on Iranian soil is the right of the Iranian nation, and everyone can interpret it as they wish... The text states explicitly that Iran will continue to enrich [uranium], and for this reason I say to the Iranian nation that the uranium enrichment activity in Iran will continue as in the past... In this six-month agreement, our [uranium enrichment] facilities at Natanz, Fordo, the Arak [plutonium reactor], [the uranium conversion facility at] Isfahan, and Bandar Abbas [i.e. the Bushehr reactor] will continue their activity."[2]

Also, in a November 24 letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Rohani declared: "The absolute achievements of this initial agreement are official recognition of Iran's nuclear rights, and preservation of the nuclear achievements of the sons of this nation."[3]

At a Geneva press conference the same day, after the signing of the agreement, Foreign Minister Zarif said: "The agreement today is important from several perspectives. Most important is that Iran's right to enrich [uranium] is officially recognized. This [nuclear] program will continue... The [activity of the] enrichment centers will not be frozen."[4]

2. Level Of Uranium Enrichment

Iran Will Continue To Enrich Uranium At 20%; The Number Of Centrifuges Will Be Maintained

Foreign Minister Zarif also said at the November 24 press conference in Geneva after the signing of the agreement: "Regarding Natanz and Fordo, the [current] number of centrifuges will be maintained; our 5%- enriched material will be maintained; and we also need to enrich to 20% for the research reactor in Tehran, and [therefore] this process [of enrichment to 20%] will continue based on the plans that we had..."[5]

3. Activity At Arak Reactor Will Continue

At the November 24 Geneva press conference following the signing of the agreement, Foreign Minister Zarif emphasized, "Our heavy water project [at Arak] will continue along the same lines as in the current situation."[6]

Also on November 24, Deputy Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the Iranian news agency IRNA: "The activity at the heavy water reactor at Arak will continue based on the agreement, but in the next six months [this activity] will not be expanded."[7] Also, the Iranian Press TV channel stated, "The interim deal allows for Iran to continue its activities at [the] Arak, Fordo, and Natanz facilities."[8]

4. Enriched Material Will Not Be Taken Out Of Iran

Foreign Minister Zarif told the Geneva press conference that "no material [i.e. enriched uranium] will be taken out of the country."[9]

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