UN nuclear watchdog says Iran abiding with 2015 deal limits

The United Nations atomic watchdog says Iran continues to keep its side of the 2015 nuclear agreement, even as new USA sanctions raise concerns about whether the deal can survive.

The issue has grown more complicated since the USA withdrew unilaterally in May from the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and then re-imposed sanctions.

The remaining five signatories to the JCPOA - Britain, China, France, Germany and Russian Federation - have backed an European Union effort to set up a special payment system in an attempt to continue trade and business ties with Iran.

Iran's nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, 300 kms 186 (miles) south of capital Tehran, Iran, April, 9, 2007.

"Timely and proactive cooperation by Iran in providing such access facilitates implementation of the additional protocol and enhances confidence", the report stated, referring to the procedure detailing safeguards and tools for verification.

A first round of American sanctions took effect in August, and the second round on November 4. Iran's stock of heavy water, another material limited under the deal that was also within the cap set, was verified on November 3, the report showed.

The reason this report is particularly important this month is that it comes just a week after the United States, who withdrew from the deal six months ago, imposed all the nuclear sanctions eased by the deal back on Iran. Tehran worries OPEC and non-OPEC countries such as Russian Federation will increase their production to fill the gap in response.