Iran to Continue Peaceful Nuclear Activities: Chief Negotiator
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stressed that the interim deal signed by Tehran and the six major world powers today has allowed Iran to maintain its nuclear enrichment program, adding that the country’s peaceful nuclear activities will continue in the future.
Iran and the six major world powers reached a six-month deal early on Sunday on how to resolve disputes over Tehran’s nuclear program after more than 4 days of intensive talks in the Swiss city of Geneva.
Aimed at ending a decade-long standoff, the agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the six major world powers also known as P5+1) was clinched after days of tough negotiations in Switzerland.
Speaking to Iranian reporters early on Sunday, Zarif said the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has recognized the rights to access nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, and based on the agreement the nuclear program will continue.
“Iran’s nuclear program is in progress and has been recognized," he said, adding that All the sanctions that had been imposed under the pretext of nuclear program will be lifted gradually.
The Iranian minister also noted that Tehran will meantime “maintain and continue its enrichment program”.
“Production of 5% enriched uranium would continue inside the country like before,” Zarif said.
Meanwhile, a US fact sheet said on Sunday that according to the interim deal, Iran has committed to stop uranium enrichment above a fissile purity of 5 percent.
Zarif went on to say that all nuclear facilities in Iran, including those in the cities of Fordo, Natanz and Arak, will continue their activities.
He also said the agreement stipulates that no new sanctions would be imposed against Iran, adding that the current sanctions would be relaxed.
Also in a press conference after conclusion of the intensive talks early on Sunday, Zarif said, “This is only a first step."
“We need to start moving in the direction of restoring confidence, a direction in which we have managed to move against in the past."
“It is important that we all of us see the opportunity to end an unnecessary crisis and open new horizons based on respect, based on the rights of the Iranian people and removing any doubts about the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program,” Zarif told reporters in English.
"We believe that the current agreement, the current plan of action as we call it, in two distinct places has a very clear reference to the fact that Iranian enrichment program will continue and will be a part of any agreement, now and in the future," he said.
