Nuclear watchdog report on Iran compliance tensely awaited

US Secretary of State John Kerry, EU’s Federica Mogherini and Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif were standing by in Vienna Saturday for the UN nuclear watchdog’s report regarding Iran’s compliance with the landmark deal reached last year. Certification that Iran is honoring its commitments to curb nuclear weapons activities will be the signal for the lifting of international sanctions against Iran worth at least $100-150 bn. Meanwhile, Tehran has reported the release of four dual national citizens, including Washington Post Bureau chief Jason Rezaian, in what was described as a prisoner exchange. This has not been confirmed by Washington. 

According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, the four were ordered released in exchange for six Iranian-Americans held in the United States on sanctions-related charges.