Russia to Continue Being Iran’s Key Strategic Partner, Says Zarif

 

Russia will continue to be a major nuclear partner for Iran after the newly-agreed nuclear deal between Tehran and the P5+1 group of international negotiators, Iran’s Foreign Minister JavadZarif said.

The minister noted that Iran and Russia shared similar views, and Russia had been supporting Tehran in the nuclear talks.

‘Russia has been the most important participant in Iran’s nuclear program and it will continue under the current agreement to be Iran’s major nuclear partner,’ Zarif told Russia’s Channel 1 television.

Energy sector and the fight against terrorism are key areas for cooperation between Iran and Russia, Zarif added.

‘In oil and gas cooperation, Iran and Russia share common interest, maintaining stability in global market prices,’ Zarif said, adding that the two countries are also strategic partners in the region against terrorism and extremism.

Sanctions relief for Iran will boost cooperation between Russia and the Islamic Republic, which have always been strategic partners, the Iran’s foreign minister said.

‘Once the sanctions are lifted, we will concentrate on working with our friends, with Russians, who are not only neighbors, but a strategic partner.’

Iran ‘deal’ has backing of international community, says Obama

US President Barack Obama says the conclusion of nuclear talks with Iran has the backing of the entire international community.

Following over two weeks of intense talks, negotiators from Iran and the P5+1 group of countries reached an agreement over Tehran’s nuclear program in the Austrian capital of Vienna on Tuesday.

The text of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was finalized earlier on Tuesday. According to the text, Iran will be recognized by the United Nations as a nuclear power and will continue its uranium enrichment program.

Obama addressed the American people from the White House after the official announcement of the conclusion of talks.

“Today after two years of negotiation the United States together with the international community has achieved something that decades of animosity has not,” Obama said with Vice President Joe Biden at his side.

The US president warned a skeptical Congress that “no deal means a greater chance of more war in the Middle East.”

The US Congress now has 60 days to review the text of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and vote to either approve or disapprove of the text.

Obama said he would veto any legislation from lawmakers that “prevents the successful implementation of the deal.”

The conclusion is viewed as the most significant foreign policy achievement for the Obama administration.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also commented on the agreement, saying “a new chapter has begun in relations with the world.”

He said the sanctions regime imposed on the Islamic Republic was never successful, adding that resistance of the Iranian nation guaranteed their victory in the nuclear talks.

 

Conclusion of Iran talks can be game changer in Mideast– Mogherini

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherinihas described the conclusion of nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 powers as a potential “game changer” in the chaotic Middle East region, Press TV reports.

“This agreement is a sign of hope in the world and especially in the region that desperately needs signs of hope because it is full of signs of desperation and war,” Mogherini said in an interview with Press TV in the Austrian city of Vienna on Tuesday.

Her remarks came after Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers – the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany – reached a conclusion on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which will put limits on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the removal of sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

“Indeed, it would be a game changer, a real game changer if we manage to build trust and on this trust that we might build, also build the possibility of working together to solve some of the major conflicts we have in the region,” she added.

The Middle East region has been hit by the acts of terrorism flamed by Takfiri groups like the ISIL terrorist group which is operating in Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and Libya. The militants affiliated with the terrorist groups are threatening the security in the whole world.

Mogherini also said the conflicts in the region are posing serious threats to the world, adding, “The lesson of today which is that talks and diplomacy can overcome decades of crisis and tension.”

She added that “the strong political will” the negotiating parties showed during the talks resulted in the good conclusion.

“I am sure that this political investment is going to bring political results,” she added.

Mogherini further appreciated the efforts made by all sides to talks, saying, “The Iranian delegation made an excellent work.”

According to the conclusion text, the nuclear-related economic and financial restrictions imposed by the United States and the EU targeting the Iranian banking, financial, oil, gas, petrochemical, trade, insurance and transport sectors will be annulled.

The 159-page conclusion will be presented to the UN Security Council, which will adopt a resolution in seven to 10 days making the JCPOA an official document.

Based on the text of the nuclear conclusion, the UNSC sanctions against Iran, including all economic and financial bans, will be lifted under a mutually agreed framework and through a new UN resolution.

 

Iran nuclear deal is a diplomatic success story, says Merkel

In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday labeled the Iranian nuclear accord an important diplomatic success.

The result is an important success of tenacious politics and international diplomacy, Merkel was quoted saying in a press statement.

She expressed hope that the Iranian deal would further boost security in the region and beyond.

Merkel urged all sides to swiftly implement the nuclear accord within the agreed time-table.

Germany was part of the so-called E3 plus 3 group (the US, Russia, China, France and Britain) which negotiated a historic agreement, ending 12 years of a nuclear dispute.

 

Nuclear deal is historic event/Hoping for better relations

In London, ‘Norman Lamont’, President of the British Iranian Chamber of Commerce, hailed the nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 and expressed his willingness for better relations between Iran and the West.

‘The nuclear deal reached between P5 and 1 and the Islamic Republic of Iran is an event of historic proportions,’ President of the British Iranian Chamber of Commerce told IRNA on Tuesday.

‘I pay tribute to Foreign Ministers Zarif and Secretary Kerry as well, of course, as President Rouhani and President Obama, both of whom had the courage to pursue the ultimate objective,’ he added.

Lamont said that there will be some criticism and opposition in all our countries but negotiation is certainly much more preferable than the alternative.

‘This happy conclusion and the eventual lifting of sanctions will be welcomed by the long-suffering Iranian people and I hope they will quickly enjoy that relief,’ he went on to say.

Lamont added that hopefully this deal will, in the long run, mean much better relations and more co-operation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the West on a whole range of interests.

‘After all, our countries do have many interests in common,’ he concluded.

 

India welcomes Iran nuclear deal

In New Delhi, Indian External Affairs Ministry Spokesman VikasSwarup on Tuesday welcomed Iran-G5+1 deal, that would end in lifting of Iran sanctions.

Swarup said the agreement is a happy event and India has always announced that Iran nuclear issue should be solved peacefully and through negotiations.

He said, “We wait publication of the text of nuclear accord between Iran and the G5+1 states and welcome successful end of talks on Iran nuclear program.”

IRNA, PRESS T.V

R.S