White House says Iran’s progress on nuclear deal must be verified

The official said that in Kerry’s many conversations with Zarif, he focused on one main message: “If we were able to do this in the right way, we can make this into what will be a good story for both of us”.

The swift release of American sailors who had entered Iranian waters was hailed by many as a sign of the improved relations between Iran and the United States. In the end, Iran agreed to eliminate virtually all of its enriched uranium and reduce its nuclear capacity considerably.

Kerry left Washington Wednesday evening to meet al-Jubeir in London.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on state television on Monday: “We are hopeful that the sanctions against Iran would be lifted in the next few days”. “Let’s learn from this latest example”, he said.

IRGC officials later said those reports were “speculation” and pointed out that no Iranian official had yet publicly confirmed that the sailors would be released.

The record, however, has been mixed. Should the deal fail, sanctions could be reimposed just as Iran’s nuclear work could return to unchecked development.

In video footage circulated by Iranian outlets, the USA sailors are shown with their hands up and one apologizes on camera, prompting questions of whether Iran had violated Geneva Convention codes for the treatment of detainees.

Araghchi called for a general distinction between USA secondary sanctions against Iran and sanctions primarily targeting Iran’s economy and endorsed with close collaboration of the United Nations and the European Union; “the Visa Waiver Program specifically affects non-US citizens visiting Iran”.

A senior USA administration official told Al-Monitor yesterday that implementation day will be “very, very soon”. Saudi Arabia and Iran already are backing opposing sides in Syria and refusing to cooperate against the Islamic State.

If the Saudi-Iranian crisis escalates, diplomats fear the newest stab at Syria peace talks could unravel before the scheduled start later this month.

The U.S.is banking on its new dynamic with Iran, and particularly Kerry’s relationship with Zarif.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the meeting is in line with the agreement’s Joint Plan of Action (JCPOA).

As we moved into 2016, Iran allowed a mob to torch the Saudi embassy in Tehran, after Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shi’ite cleric.

The IRGC has been much more critical of the nuclear deal than the political leadership, and some see this incident as an effort to assert their authority.

The legislation targets more than 50 individuals and entities included in an attachment to the nuclear deal that also are on Treasury’s “Specially Designated Nationals” list, which freezes any assets they may have in the US and generally prohibits anyone in the USA from doing business with them.