U.S. Mission to International
Organizations in Geneva

Today marks the first day of implementation of the Joint Plan of Action that the United States, the European Union, and our P5+1 partners negotiated with Iran over its nuclear program.

This morning, the International Atomic Energy Agency submitted a report on Iran’s current nuclear activities and the steps it has taken to fulfill its initial commitments under the Joint Plan of Action. We received the IAEA’s report and technical briefing. After reviewing this information, the United States and the European Union have determined that Iran has taken the steps it committed to doing by or on the first day of implementation regarding its nuclear program.

As a result of Iran’s actions, today the United States and the European Union will begin implementing the limited sanctions relief we committed to under the Joint Plan of Action as well. For the United States, this involves a variety of specific steps, including the issuance of the necessary statutory waivers and guidance on the non-enforcement of the elements of the Executive Orders associated with the sanctions requiring relief. The necessary waivers have been approved by Secretary Kerry and will be notified to Congress today. We will also be releasing specific guidance documents to explain the scope and limitations of the relief undertaken today.

Iran has begun to take concrete and verifiable steps to halt its nuclear program. These actions today are significant steps in our efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The coming negotiation to reach a comprehensive agreement that addresses all of the international community’s concerns will be even more complex, and we go into it clear-eyed about the difficulties ahead. But today’s events have made clear that we have an unprecedented opportunity to see if we can resolve this most pressing national security concern peacefully. That remains our goal, and that is our challenge ahead.