The U.S. Secretary of State, while reiterating support for the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers, stated that since its implementation, Tehran has received $3 billion in cash.
According to the U.S. State Department, John Kerry said on April 19 at a gathering of the J Street lobby group, referring to discussions about U.S. presidential election candidates: “Do you remember the debate about how much money Iran was getting?”
He then added: “The candidates said incorrectly $155 billion. Some thought $100 billion. We calculated; it came to $55 billion in cash. But do you know how much they have actually received so far?”
The U.S. Secretary of State told participants at the J Street meeting that Iran has received $3 billion since the implementation of the JCPOA to date.
Mr. Kerry’s reference to campaign statements goes back to debates and interviews by Republican candidates; for example, Donald Trump, the leading candidate of the party, had said in March of the previous year: “We gave them (Iran) $150 billion”.
Previously, Reuters news agency had stated that with the lifting of sanctions, Iran would gain access to $100 billion of its blocked assets, most of which would be used to pay its debts.
John Kerry in early March of the previous year described the cash reaching Iran as “less than $50 billion”.
Mr. Kerry at the J Street meeting emphasized that the nuclear agreement reached with Tehran is the best way to “prevent” Tehran from achieving “nuclear weapons”.
Iran has consistently rejected any efforts to acquire nuclear weapons.
John Kerry also said that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile has been reduced from 1,200 kilograms to 300 kilograms. He added that Tehran previously had two months to “complete the work,” but now “is set back one year, and we have the ability to know which direction they are going”.
The U.S. Secretary of State says that despite some skepticism, “we are now in a place that seemed unimaginable to some and unacceptable to others”.
J Street is a trans-partisan liberal lobbying group. While considered a supporter of Israel, it advocates for continued U.S. leadership in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and establishing peace between Israel and its neighbors.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson announced on Monday that John Kerry traveled to New York to meet with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Minister. The “JCPOA” and “Syria crisis” have been cited as topics of the upcoming talks.
Previously, Iran’s Foreign Ministry also stated that Mr. Zarif would meet with Mr. Kerry during his trip to New York and discuss with him the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. In recent days, attacks by hardliners on the nuclear agreement have increased, and Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, has also raised criticisms regarding its implementation.
Source: Radio Farda
