Iran to step into nuclear trade: Zarif

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Iran is to step into trade on peaceful nuclear technology following years of research and development in the nuclear industry.

Zarif made the remarks upon arrival in the Iranian capital, Tehran, early Wednesday following the conclusion of the talks between Iran and the P5+1 group over Tehran’s nuclear program.

The conclusion of talks over Tehran’s nuclear program proved that sanctions were a nonstarter, Zarif further said, adding all cruel sanctions against Tehran will be lifted based on the text of the conclusion.

The head of the Iranian negotiating delegation said Iran showed that it will stand up to sanctions, but has flexibility when it comes to talks.

Following 18 days of marathon talks in Vienna over Tehran’s nuclear program, Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers – the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany — reached a conclusion on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Zarif described the talks as very “tough,” but stressed that all red lines set by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei were observed in the negotiations.

He also thanked the Leader, the negotiating team, the Iranian nation and media for their support through the talks.

Iran nuclear program to go on

Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), who was also present at the press briefing with Zarif, described the conclusion of Iran’s nuclear talks as a big achievement, saying it will go down in history.

Echoing the foreign minister’s comments regarding Iran’s bid to enter nuclear trade, Salehi said that Iran will continue its peaceful nuclear program and take giant steps in the nuclear industry.

Zarif stops over in Mashhad

Before arriving in Tehran, Zarif and his delegation first visited the holy city of Mashhad early on Wednesday after returning from Vienna to pay tribute to Imam Reza, the eighth Shia Imam.

Zarif was warmly welcomed by people in the holy city who held placards and shouted slogans in support of the nuclear team as well as President Hassan Rouhani.

A large number of people took to the streets in different cities across Iran following the conclusion of Iran’s nuclear talks.

Based on the nuclear conclusion, limits will be put on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the removal of sanctions, including all economic and financial bans, against the Islamic Republic.

Addressing the Iranian nation following the conclusion of the talks, President Rouhani said that the talks had four main objectives, namely Iran’s ability to go ahead with its nuclear activities, lifting of “cruel and inhumane sanctions,” annulment of all “illegal” sanctions adopted by the UN Security Council against Iran and the withdrawal of Iran’s nuclear dossier from the UN Security Council.