Iran set to put nuke deal in motion after final vote

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The final step for Iran to start carrying out the nuclear agreement was completed Wednesday, after an oversight panel ratified the bill passed by parliament supporting the deal with six world powers.

Under the Iranian system, half the Guardian Council’s members are clerics, appointed by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and confirmed by parliament.

“There were 161 votes in favor of the bill, 59 votes against and 13 abstentions, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency”.

“Once Iran knew that the USA was open to giving them the right to enrich Uranium, they became much more keen on making a deal”, McInnis said.

The deal, known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was signed between Iran and the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russian Federation and China.

Once the worldwide Atomic Energy Agency is satisfied Iran has met its obligations, which Tehran hopes to achieve by early 2016 but could take longer, the United States, United Nations and European Union will rescind nuclear-related sanctions.

The deal, reached in July, imposes limitations on Iran’s nuclear program in return for lifting of sanctions.

The bill also requires the Iranian government to work toward the nuclear disarmament of Israel, which has the region’s sole, if undeclared, nuclear arsenal. Khamenei himself has not publicly supported or disapproved of the deal, though he offered encouragement for the Islamic Republic’s diplomats throughout the months of negotiations over it.

Despite the victory, Rouhani and his allies still face challenging times ahead. It was not immediately clear Tuesday when the Guardian Council would issue its own decision. Iran’s Central Bank said inflation went from a monthly rate of 45.1 percent when Rouhani was elected in June 2013 to around 15.5 percent.

McInnis served as the senior expert on Iran at the U.S. Central Command from 2010 to 2013, and worked with General David Petraeus GS ’85 ’87 and General Ray Odierno to increase the government’s awareness of Iran’s military capabilities.