Iran, EU announce implementation of nuclear deal as sanctions lifted

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini attend a press conference in Vienna, Austria, Jan 16, 2016.  [Photo/Xinhua]

VIENNA - The European Union (EU) and Iran on Saturday announced the "implementation day" of the historic nuclear deal, which marks victory of diplomacy and the milestone of the Iranian nuclear crisis.

Verified by the UN nuclear agency, Iran has done all the steps to address world concerns in scaling back its nuclear plan, including freezing much of its nuclear material production, which could be used to build nuclear bombs.

"Today, I released a report confirming that Iran has completed the necessary preparatory steps to start the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action," International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Yukiya Amano said in a statement.

Iran also promises to provide more transparency of its nuclear program, letting the UN nuclear inspectors be able to monitor Tehran's atomic plan.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (L), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Yukiya Amano and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini arrive at the United Nations building in Vienna, Austria, Jan 16, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Under the deal this progress would trigger a comprehensive relief of the nuclear related sanctions imposed on Tehran simultaneously by the United States, the EU and UN security council, especially the oil embargo.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini jointly made an announcement of the implementation day of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the historic nuclear deal reached last July.