Iran, U.S, Germany, others reach historic nuclear deal

A historic agreement has been reached over the Iranian nuclear issue between Iran and six world major countries, a diplomatic source confirmed on Tuesday.

The comprehensive agreement was clinched between Iran and Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the U.S. after over two weeks of bargain in Vienna.

The text of the deal is around 100 pages with five annexes, which specify key areas of the Iranian nuclear issue, including sanction relief and action plan.

It also specifies nuclear technology cooperation, the monitoring of the implementation, and capping of Iran’s nuclear capacity, and draft of UN Security Council resolution.

The period before the comprehensive deal is started to be implemented by all sides could be around half a year, a source said.

A U.S. state department spokesperson said representatives were meeting for the last time in the in Vienna before addressing a news conference.

Iran’s foreign minister hailed the deal as “a historic moment” but acknowledged it was `not perfect.’

“I believe this is a historic moment. We are reaching an agreement that is not perfect for anybody but it is what we could accomplish and it is an important achievement for all of us,” Mohammad Javad Zarif said.

He spoke at a final ministerial meeting between Iran and six world powers in Vienna.

Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, confirmed the deal in a social media message, saying it “shows constructive engagement works.”

According to the White House, U.S. President, Barack Obama, will make an announcement on the Iranian nuclear program at 11:00 GMT.

Meanwhile, Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said he has signed a roadmap with Iran to clarify past and present outstanding issues.

“I have just signed the roadmap between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the IAEA for the clarification of past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran’s nuclear program,” Amano said.

He spoke ahead of the expected announcement of the historic deal.

Future access to Iran’s Parchin military site, which the agency had repeatedly sought, is part of a separate `arrangement’, Amano said.

After Rouhani took office in 2013, Tehran and the six countries intensified the nuclear talks and signed a deal in Geneva in November 2013.

Under the deal Tehran would suspend some disputed nuclear activities in exchange for limited sanction relief from Western states, buying time for diplomatic efforts.

In the past 18 months of marathon negotiations, Iran and the six countries have resolved many tough issues which were once seen as an impossible task to be done.

They include the capping Iran’s nuclear capacity and granting greater transparency of Tehran’s atomic plan. (Xinhua/NAN)