6 powers reach nuclear deal with Iran
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Foreign ministers representing six world powers said they had reached an interim agreement with Iran over its nuclear programme.
The interim deal offered Iran an easing of sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme under vigorous inspections. The accord was described by diplomats earlier as a historic breakthrough after a decade of on-off negotiations.
In a major concession, the six powers agreed that Iran could continue to enrich uranium up to the level of five per cent required for generating power from a nuclear reactor. Past UN Security Council resolutions had required Iran to freeze its enrichment activities.
Mohammed Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, wrote on his Facebook page to Iranians that “with the help of God” the talks had been successfull after “the resistance, patience and calmness of this great nation bore fruits”.
“[Uranium] Enrichment is recognised. Nuclear Activities will continue and sanctions are put on a slope. More than any time before, we need national solidiarity [at home],” he wrote.
Iran’s foreign ministers also told Iranian reporters in Geneva that this was “only the beginning” of a nuclear deal.
US President Barack Obama said that the agreement, which he described as “an important first step”, had “opened up a new path toward a world that is more secure – a future in which we can verify that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful, and that it cannot build a nuclear weapon”.
But he added that if “Iran does not fully meet its commitments during this six-month phase, we will turn off the [sanctions] relief, and ratchet up the pressure”.
A senior US official insisted that the sanctions relief being offered to Iran was “limited, temporary, targeted and reversible” and would automatically expire after six months if there were no final agreement.
The official added that the US would continue to enforce the sanctions that remain in place, including the core oil and financial sanctions, and would “not tolerate” any individuals or companies who tried to circumvent the restrictions on doing business on Iran.
The interim agreement is intended to create a six-month breathing space for Iran and the six powers to negotiate a comprehensive settlement. As a first step, international sanctions against Iran will be eased while the Islamic republic has committed itself to curb its nuclear programme.