The U.S. Secretary of State, while renewing 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 the debate among U.S. presidential election candidates, “Remember the debates about how much money Iran would get?”
He then added, “The candidates incorrectly 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 until today.
Kerry’s reference to electoral statements harks back to debates and interviews by Republican candidates; for example, Donald Trump, the frontrunner of the party, had said last March that “We gave them (Iran) $150 billion.”
Previously, Reuters reported 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, in early March of last year, described the cash reaching Iran as “less than $50 billion.”
Mr. Kerry emphasized at the J Street meeting that the nuclear agreement reached with Tehran is the best way to “prevent” Tehran from obtaining “nuclear weapons.”
Iran has consistently denied any effort to obtain nuclear weapons.
John Kerry meanwhile stated that the amount of Iran’s enriched uranium has been reduced from 1,200 kilograms to 300 kilograms. He added that Tehran previously had two months to “complete the job,” but now “is set back by 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 liberal, non-governmental advocacy 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 has traveled to New York to meet with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Minister. The “JCPOA” and the “Syrian crisis” have been mentioned as topics for the upcoming talks.
Previously, Iran’s Foreign Ministry also said that Mr. Zarif would meet with Mr. 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 leader of the Islamic Republic, has also raised criticisms regarding its implementation.
Source: Radio Farda
