A ceremony was held in Tehran on Monday morning to commemorate the families of the Iranian nuclear scientists that have been martyred and the officials and staff who had a role in a long process of negotiations that led to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a lasting nuclear deal between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was given the First-Class Order of Merit and Management, while Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi and Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan were awarded the First-Class Order of Courage.
The other members of the Iranian team of negotiators, engaged in the diplomatic, legal and technical fields, were also given the Second-Class Order of Merit, the Third-Class Order of Service, and Golden Signs for their efforts.
The president also gave awards to the families of the martyred nuclear scientists.
“What helped the team of nuclear negotiators to fulfill such duty was the Iranian nation’s vigilance and resistance, which paralyzed the weapon of sanctions and forced the world’s big powers to respect (Iran),” Zarif said after receiving his medal.
The JCPOA came into force on January 16, terminating all nuclear-related sanctions against Iran.