Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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Vienna, SANA – Iran and the countries of the P5+1 group agreed on a nuclear deal on Tuesday, capping years of negotiations with a final agreement.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced that Iran has come to a final agreement with the six major world powers- the US, Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany.
“Today is a historic day, and we proudly announce that we have reached a nuclear deal,” said Zarif, addressing a joint press conference with Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in the Austrian capital Vienna.
Mogherini, for her part, said the deal on the Iranian nuclear file was officially announced.
During the final meeting with the six major world powers-the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany-before the announcement of the deal, Zarif described the announcement of the comprehensive joint work plan on the Iranian nuclear file as a “historic moment” and an important achievement for all the parties.
Prior to the announcement, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said in a Tweet that reaching a deal on Iran’s nuclear file would be a victory for “the logic of diplomacy over the language of pressures and arrogance.”
Under the deal, sanctions on importing and exporting imposed on Iran since 35 years by the United States, European Union and United Nations would be lifted in return for Iran scaling down its nuclear program.
Reports say that Iran would be able to enter the world markets as a nuclear materials-producing country.
Economic and financial blockade on the Iranian sectors of banking, financing, oil, gas, petrochemicals, trade, transport and communications would be lifted, and so would be the blockade imposed on armament and purchase of heavy equipment and airplanes.
Those sanctions would be replaced by some restrictions instead.
Alongside the deal, Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed on Tuesday a “road map” deal for clarifying aspects of Iran’s nuclear program.
Ali Akbar Salehi, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), who signed the deal, said Iran and the IAEA will take measures to settle all long-pending issues.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the nuclear deal, saying it brings the world “a sigh of relief”.
Russia, he said, will make maximum efforts to make the nuclear deal help in forming a wide alliance for fighting terrorism.
The United Arab Emirates also welcomed this deal, with President of the UAE Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan sending a cable to President Rouhani in which he congratulated him on this achievement and hoped that it will help boost security and stability in the region.
Likewise, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the deal, describing it as a historic breakthrough.
In turn, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the deal which he described as historic, voicing appreciation for the leaders who approved it and hoping that it will lead to further agreements and cooperation in the Middle East.
U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Francois Hollande, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini also welcomed the agreement.
Haifa Said / Hazem Sabbagh
