Hague: Sanctions on Iran to remain until comprehensive deal

British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Monday urged Iran to continue implementing the framework agreement, struck with the E3+3 in last November, and advance the negotiations on a comprehensive deal. Updating Parliament on Iran's nuclear program, Hague said: "The first step agreement with Iran came into force on 20th January and continues to be implemented. "The E3+3 and Iran met last week to start negotiations on a comprehensive agreement aimed at ensuring that Iran's nuclear programme is and always will be exclusively peaceful. The talks were constructive. "The E3+3 and Iran agreed on the issues that need to be resolved as part of a comprehensive agreement; and in broad terms the approach to negotiations in the coming months. "The next round of talks will be in mid-March in Vienna. The E3+3 and Iran plan to meet monthly in order to make swift progress on the issues that need to be resolved in the ambitious time frame we agreed under the November Geneva deal of implementation starting within a year. "The House should be under no illusion that the challenges remain very considerable. A comprehensive solution must address all proliferation concerns related to Iran's nuclear programme. "To that end, existing sanctions remain intact and we will continue to enforce them robustly," Hague stressed. "We continue to expand our bilateral engagement with Iran, indeed Iran's non-resident Charge d'Affaires is visiting the UK today. "Last Thursday we and Iran brought protecting power arrangements to an end. This is a sign of increasing confidence that we can conduct bilateral business directly between capitals rather than through intermediaries. "I thank the governments of Sweden and Oman for acting as protecting powers since the closure of our Embassy, and for their strong friendship and support to the UK. "We will continue step-by-step with these improvements in our bilateral relations providing they remain reciprocal. We are, for example, working together on ways to make it easier for Iranians and British citizens to obtain consular and visa services. "On all these issues we will maintain intensive diplomatic activity in the days ahead and I will continue to keep the House informed on our work with other nations - whether it be in Europe, the Middle East or the prevention of nuclear proliferation- to ensure a more peaceful and stable world," he concluded.