Senator: US may lift Iran sanctions as early as January

WASHINGTON

The United States may lift at least some sanctions against Iran, possibly as early as January, a U.S. senator said Thursday.

Speaking during a hearing at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the body’s top Democrat, Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, said sanctions relief could start in January, earlier than anticipated.

"Now we understand it is likely that Iran will be in compliance and entitled to sanctions relief as early as January," Cardin said as the Barack Obama administration was questioned about the implementation of the nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic.

The Iran nuclear deal was signed between Tehran and five other world powers last July, which aimed to curb the country's nuclear activities in exchange for an easing of economic sanctions.

However, Iran tested a ballistic missile in October which violated a United Nations Security Council resolution.

Following the test, Republican senators sent a letter to Obama in which they claimed inaction against Iran had undermined further an already-weak deal.

Speaking on Thursday, Cardin said the U.S. wanted Iran to comply with the deal’s provisions but asked “why did we misjudge so badly the date that is likely for compliance?"

Stephen Mull, the U.S. State Department's lead coordinator for implementation of the deal, said that some administration officials had speculated that compliance would take until the spring.

However, he did not give a date when the sanctions would start to be lifted.

"We're not there yet," he said, adding: "I don't think anyone in the U.S. can predict when that will be. The responsibility for that lies with Iran as verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency."

Media reports had suggested that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sent a letter to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of Congress, saying that Iran had not engaged in any covert act which could significantly advance its nuclear weapons program.

Admitting Kerry's letter, U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said during a press briefing that "Iran has been complying with the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]," thus far.