The U.S. Secretary of State, while reaffirming 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, in reference to discussions among candidates for the U.S. presidential election, “Remember the debates about how much money Iran would receive?”
He then added, “The candidates mistakenly said $155 billion. Some thought $100 billion. We calculated it; 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.
Kerry’s reference to electoral statements pertains to debates and interviews by Republican candidates; for example, Donald Trump, the leading candidate of the party, had said last March that “We gave them (Iran) $150 billion”.
Previously, Reuters news agency stated that Iran would gain access to $100 billion of its blocked assets with the lifting of sanctions, most of which has been used to pay off its debts.
John Kerry at the beginning of last March described the cash flow to Iran as “less than $50 billion”.
Kerry emphasized at the J Street meeting that the nuclear agreement reached with Tehran is the best way to “prevent” Tehran from “acquiring” “nuclear weapons”.
Iran has consistently denied any attempt to acquire nuclear weapons.
Kerry meanwhile stated that the amount of Iran’s enriched uranium has been reduced from 1,200 kilograms to 300 kilograms. He added that previously Tehran had two months to “complete the task,” but now is “set back by a year, and we have the capability 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 unthinkable to some and unacceptable to others”.
J Street is a liberal non-partisan lobbying group. While considered a supporter of Israel, it calls for continued U.S. leadership in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and achieving 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 the “Syrian crisis” were cited as topics for upcoming talks.
Previously, Iran’s Foreign Ministry also said that Zarif would meet with Kerry during his trip to New York and discuss the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with him. In recent days, attacks by hardliners on the nuclear agreement have increased, and Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, has also raised criticisms regarding its implementation.
Source: Radio Farda
