Australia softens sanctions against Iran

Australia removed nuclear-related sanctions against the Islamic Republic on Wednesday after the UN nuclear agency confirmed that Tehran had scaled down its nuclear program under an agreement it reached with the P5+1 group last July, Reuters reported.

Under measures announced by the Australian government, businesses are no longer banned from doing transactions of more than A$20,000 ($14,436) with Iranian entities.

However, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said in a statement that Canberra would keep in place some non-nuclear bans, including those related to Tehran’s missile program.

Tehran has repeatedly said its missile program is defensive in nature and that it will keep its right to develop conventional weapons.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia – plus Germany started to implement the nuclear deal, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on January 16.

The nuclear agreement was signed on July 14, 2015 following two and a half years of intensive talks.

After the JCPOA went into effect, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the UN Security Council and the US were lifted. Iran has, in return, put some limitations on its nuclear activities.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has verified Iran’s commitment to the nuclear agreement.

In its first regular report since the implementation of the JCPOA, the UN nuclear agency said last month it “has been verifying and monitoring the implementation by Iran of its nuclear-related commitments.”