Oil and banking sanctions against Iran might be lifted by mid-January based on the pace at which technicians are removing and mothballing nuclear equipment at the country’s uranium-enrichment facilities. Iran removed 4,530 centrifuges during the 28 days ending Nov. 15, a rate of 162 machines per day, according to an International Atomic Energy Agency report issued late Wednesday. Based on current work rates, Iran may be able to fulfill its part of the nuclear deal agreed with world powers by Jan. 12. “By the time you have this down to a routine, it’s not much more difficult than changing a set of tires,” said Robert Kelley, a nuclear engineer and former IAEA director who has supervised centrifuge disassembly projects. “There’s no reason the Iranians cannot continue at the same pace.” The July 14 deal agreed with world powers requires requires Iran to reduce the number of its installed centrifuges […]