EU pledges readiness to lift anti-Iran sanctions

EU pledges readiness to lift anti-Iran sanctions
European Union says it is ready to suspend some sanctions against Iran as soon as experts check that Tehran is implementing the terms of a nuclear deal reached in Geneva.

In a Monday meeting, foreign ministers of the 28-nation bloc expressed support for the deal reached on November 24 in Geneva as “a long-awaited signal of the commitment of all sides to build trust and reduce tensions” over Iran’s nuclear program.

“A swift implementation of the voluntary measures by all sides is now key,” the EU ministers said in their statement.

“Iran has to implement its commitments in good faith. For its part, the (EU) Council is committed to take the necessary steps and to suspend those EU sanctions as set out in the Joint Plan of Action,” they added.

According to the statement, sanctions will be suspended after inspectors from the the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) verify the implementation of nuclear-related measures by Iran.

On November 24, Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany reached an interim deal aimed at laying the groundwork for the full resolution of the West’s decade-old dispute with Iran over its nuclear energy program.

In exchange for Tehran’s confidence-building bid to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities, the Sextet agreed to lift some of the existing sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Furthermore, no new sanctions should be imposed against Iran over the course of next six months.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister is reportedly scheduled to hold talks with EU Foreign Policy chief Catherin Ashton in the Belgian capital of Brussels on Tuesday.