Geneva Talks on Iranian Nuclear Ambitions yields Positive Results

Photo Credit: The BBC(Iranian FM amd Senator Kerry)

Could this be Peace at last?

"We have reached an agreement," the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced on his Twitter feed at about 03:00 (02:00 GMT) such were the words from the Iranian Minister early this morning.

In a televised statement from the White House President Obama said the measures agreed would "help prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon".


Mr Obama outlined what the deal contained, including a commitment by Iran to halt "certain levels of enrichment and neutralising part of its stockpiles" - an apparent reference to uranium enrichment above 5% purity, which is needed to create a nuclear bomb.

In return, he said Iran would "halt work at its plutonium reactor and new inspections will provide extensive access to Iran's nuclear facilities and allow the international community to verify whether Iran is keeping its commitments".

Sanctions on Iran would be relaxed, the US State Department said.

Restrictions on Iran's petrochemical exports and some other sectors would be suspended, bringing in $1.5bn in revenue.

No new sanctions would be imposed for six months, the State Department said.

Separate US, EU and UN sanctions have targeted Iran's energy and banking sectors, crippling its oil-based economy.

But Mr Obama warned that if Iran fail to keep its commitments, "we will turn off the relief and ratchet up the pressure".

This deal was reached after four days of negotiations with representatives of the so-called P5+1 group of nations - the US, the UK, Russia, China, France and Germany.

This deal may be the most significant agreement between the world powers and Iran for a decade, says the BBC's Iran correspondent, James Reynolds, who is at the talks in Geneva.