Iran says nuclear deal to take effect January 20
Agreement between Islamic republic and world powers concerning implementation of Geneva nuclear deal to take effect Jan. 20. Under the deal, Tehran agrees to temporarily curb parts of nuclear drive
Iran said on Sunday that the landmark agreement the Islamic republic clinched with world powers on its disputed nuclear program will take effect from January 20.
"The implementation of the joint plan of action will start from January 20," foreign ministry spokesperson Marzieh Afkham told Mehr news agency.
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Media reports said Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi was to hold a news conference later on Sunday.
Iran and the European Union agreed Friday on how to implement the deal on containing Tehran's nuclear program, but it still must be approved by each country before it can take effect.
The EU represents the so-called P5+1 group of world powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States -- in the decade-long nuclear negotiations with Iran.
Under the deal reached in November, Tehran agreed to curb parts of its nuclear drive for six months in exchange for receiving modest relief from international sanctions and a promise by Western powers not to impose new measures against its hard-hit economy.
Western nations and Israel have long suspected Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapons capability alongside its civilian program, charges denied by Tehran.
The White House confirmed Sunday that a nuclear agreement with Iran will take effect from January 20, but US President Barack Obama said he was under "no illusions" how hard it would be reach a comprehensive resolution.
"Beginning January 20th, Iran will for the first time start eliminating its stockpile of higher levels of enriched uranium and dismantling some of the infrastructure that makes such enrichment possible," a statement from the White House said.
