TEHERAN (AFP) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani moved Thursday (Oct 22) to dispel concerns voiced by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over Iran's landmark nuclear deal, insisting Teheran would carry out its obligations while monitoring the actions of world powers.
In a letter to the president on Wednesday, Supreme Leader Khamenei for the first time endorsed the accord Teheran struck in July with world powers, but warned that Iran must guard against weakness in carrying out its provisions.
The agreement with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany will see a raft of trade sanctions against Iran lifted in return for curbs lasting up to 15 years on its atomic activities.
Rouhani acknowledged support from Khamenei, who has the last word on Teheran's policy matters, and assured the leader of the benefits of the deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran's government will act to thoroughly implement the JCPOA, while observing his Honourable considerations and the ratifications of the Supreme National Security Council," the president said.
Khamenei said he approved the decision of the country's top security committee, the SNSC, to implement the agreement.
"The other sides' actions to fulfil their commitments will be vigilantly monitored and a proper decision will be made by the SNSC," he assured, in case any of the six powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - breached the accord.
The US and European Union have adopted measures to lift sanctions on Iran, and Teheran is preparing to limit its atomic programme.
However, according to the leader's order, Iran is holding back on some of its commitments until the UN nuclear watchdog announces that Teheran's past and current atomic activities are clean.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has until Dec 15 to issue its report on Iran's nuclear programme.
Rouhani said Khamenei's "confirmation, along with the conditions you set... would open a new chapter" in Iran's path to progress.
In his letter, Khamenei warned the deal had "many ambiguities and structural weak points" which must be closely monitored.
