JCPOA Procurement Channel

The J oint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was concluded in Vienna on 14 July 2015, as a result of diplomatic efforts by the E3/EU+3 (China, France, Germany, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States, and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy). The JCPOA is designed to ensure that Iran’s nuclear programme will be exclusively peaceful and provides for the comprehensive lifting of UN, EU and US nuclear-related sanctions. The JCPOA was unanimously endorsed by the Security Council in Resolution 2231 (2015) adopted on 20 July 2015.

The Implementation Day was reached on 16 January 2016, when the Security Council received the report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirming that Iran had taken a series of nuclear-related actions specified in paragraphs 15.1-15.11 of Annex V of the JCPOA. Transition Day will take place 8 years after Adoption Day (i.e. in 2023) or when the IAEA has reached the broader conclusion that all remaining nuclear material in Iran is for peaceful activities – whichever is earlier. This will trigger the lifting of the remaining nuclear-related sanctions, ballistic missile restrictions, and related designations. On Termination Day, which will occur ten years after Adoption Day (i.e. in 2025), remaining EU measures will be terminated, the Security Council will conclude consideration of the Iran nuclear issue and Resolution 2231 (2015) will be terminated.

Established under the JCPOA, the Joint Commission* consists of all members of the E3/EU+3 and Iran. It oversees the JCPOA implementation and addresses potential problems and disputes. The EU High Representative or his/her designated representative serves as the Coordinator of the Joint Commission and its respective working groups, which mostly meet in Vienna. On 8 May 2018, the President of the United States announced the withdrawal of the JCPOA. Therefore, as of 9 May, the United States does not participate in any JCPOA-related activities or meetings. Remarks by President Trump on the JCPOA can be found here.

The EU Delegation in Vienna ensures the smooth functioning of the JCPOA Procurement Working Group and conducts related outreach activities. The EU Delegation in Vienna facilitates discussions on statements to be delivered on behalf of all EU Member States at meetings of the IAEA Board of Governors. The Delegation also supports the implementation of civil nuclear cooperation activities with Iran under Annex III of the JCPOA. Furthermore, it hosts and/or supports the organisation of JCPOA-related meetings in Vienna, such as for example meetings of the Joint Commission.

* The Joint Commission: joint_commission.pdf

Procurement Channel

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015) requires States to obtain prior approval from the Security Council when they seek to participate in or permit certain transfers of nuclear or dual-use goods, technology, and/ or related services to Iran. The Procurement Channel was established by the JCPOA and endorsed by Resolution 2231 (2015) as the mechanism to review proposals by States seeking to engage in these activities with Iran for nuclear and non-nuclear civilian end-uses.

Proposals are submitted to the Security Council, which forwards them to the Procurement Working Group of the Joint Commission for review within specified timelines. The Procurement Working Group submits a recommendation on behalf of the Joint Commission to the Security Council for its final review and decision. The Security Council will then notify the proposing State whether its request has been approved or disapproved.

Practical information on the Procurement Channel provided by the Procurement Working Group is available here.

Procurement Working Group

The Procurement Working Group (PWG) was set up by Annex IV of the JCPOA as the operational tool of the Procurement Channel. The role of the PWG is to review proposals submitted by States seeking to engage in the supply, sale or transfer of nuclear and dual-use items (specified in paragraphs 6.1.1-6.1.3 of Annex IV of the JCPOA) and to provide its recommendation to the Security Council for final decision. The PWG is chaired by the PWG Coordinator, who serves as the Head of the JCPOA Procurement Channel Section of the EU Delegation in Vienna.

For more information, see Practical arrangements for the Procurement Working Group and the Joint Commission for matters relating to the Procurement Channel

Reports of the Joint Commission

Pursuant to paragraph 6.10 of Annex IV of the JCPOA, the Joint Commission reports to the Security Council at least every six months on the status of the Procurement Working Group's decisions and on any implementation issues.

The Joint Commission reports can be found here.

Documentation for submission of proposals to the Procurement Channel

Additional documents related to the Procurement Channel

IAEA mandate in Iran

The JCPOA foresees that Iran's compliance with the nuclear-related provisions of the JCPOA will be monitored and verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), according to requirements detailed in Annex I of the JCPOA. On 15 December 2015, the IAEA Board of Governors adopted resolution GOV/2015/72 endorsing the IAEA mandate in Iran. The combination of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, the Additional Protocol (currently provisionally applied by Iran), and the additional monitoring and verification instruments foreseen by the JCPOA equips the IAEA with an unprecedented verification and monitoring mechanism. The IAEA Director General provides regular updates to the IAEA Board of Governors and to the Security Council on Iran’s implementation of its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA. The IAEA Director General is also required to report at any time, if the Director General has reasonable grounds to believe there is an issue of concern.

The reports made public by the IAEA Board of Governors can be found here.

EU statements on Iran

The EU Delegation in Vienna facilitates EU Member States discussions on EU statements to be delivered at the IAEA Board of Governors meetings. These statements are delivered on behalf of the EU by the EU Member State holding the rotating EU Council Presidency.

The Iran-related EU Statements delivered since Implementation Day can be found here.