The US secretary of state, John Kerry, has appointed a former ambassador to Poland, Stephen Mull, as the lead coordinator for implementing the Iran nuclear agreement.



“Steve will lead the inter-agency effort to ensure that the nuclear steps Iran committed to in the (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) are fully implemented and verified, and that we and our partners are taking reciprocal action on sanctions, following the nuclear steps,” Kerry said in a statement.



Mull’s appointment follows the US Congress’ 60-day review period of the nuclear agreement, which ended on Thursday, during which Republicans failed to kill off the deal.



Under the agreement, sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union and the United Nations will be lifted in return for Iran agreeing to longterm curbs on its nuclear programme.

Iran’s heavy water production facility at Arak. Photograph: ARASH KHAMOUSHI/AP

The deal also requires Iran, which has denied that it seeks nuclear weapons, to mothball the majority of its centrifuges used to enrich uranium for a decade and to sharply reduce its low-enriched uranium stockpile.

In the coming months, Iran, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United States and other major powers will prepare for the deal’s formal implementation, though no date for it to start has been set.



According to US officials, the next key date is October 18, when the administration will approve waivers for key US sanctions on Iran to take effect on implementation day.

It is thought unlikely that international sanctions will be lifted before next year. The timing depends on when Iran meets its commitments and the IAEA confirms Iran has resolved all outstanding issues with the agency.



Mull’s previous assignments included serving from 2008 to 2010 as an aide to former US under secretary of state Bill Burns, working on issues related to Iran’s nuclear programme. He also helped to design a UN security council resolution which imposed additional nuclear-related sanctions on Iran, Kerry said.

