Breakthrough as Iran nuclear deal to take effect on 20 January
Tuesday, 14 January 2014 00:02
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Reuters: A deal between Iran and six major powers intended to pave the way to a solution to a long standoff over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions will come into force on 20 January, the Iranian Foreign Ministry and the European Union said on Sunday.
Shortly after the interim accord takes effect, an Iranian official added, Tehran and world powers will start negotiating a final settlement of their differences about activity the West suspects is aimed at obtaining a nuclear weapons capability.
Iran says its atomic energy program is aimed purely at electricity generation and other civilian purposes, although past Iranian attempts to hide sensitive nuclear activity from UN non-proliferation inspectors raised concerns.
The 24 November agreement appeared to halt a slide towards another, wider Middle East war over Iran’s nuclear aspirations, but diplomats warn it will not be easy to carry out because of long-standing mutual mistrust.
The Iranian official, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, said the deal would allow Iran to stop complying if it saw its partners not living up to their own commitments.
“We don’t trust them,” he told state television, reflecting ingrained suspicions between Iran and the West that underlie what have been protracted negotiations.
“The Geneva deal will be implemented from January 20,” Marzieh Afkham of the Iranian Foreign Ministry told reporters in Tehran, the semi-official Mehr news agency said.
