Kabul hails Iran nuclear deal

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on Tuesday hailed the recent agreement reached in Geneva between Iran and world powers as a positive tension-defusing step, repored the Pajhwok Afghan News. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “Afghanistan welcomes the agreement reached on November 24 in Geneva between our neighboring, friendly and brotherly country and the P5+1 group.” A statement from the ministry said the Afghan government was hopeful remaining issues would also be resolved in the coming six months and both parties would reach a comprehensive agreement. Two years back, the US imposed economic sanctions on Iran due to its controversial nuclear programme. However, Iran and the six world powers clinched a deal on Sunday to curb the nuclear programme in exchange for initial sanctions relief. According to Obama administration’s estimates, Iran will get as much as $7 billion in relief from economic sanctions over six months under the first-step agreement in Geneva. In return for Iran limiting its nuclear program, the interim agreement provides for the release of $4.2 billion in frozen oil assets and will let Iran continue exporting fuel at current levels. Under the accord, certain sanctions on gold and precious metals will also be suspended Iran’s auto sector and petrochemical exports will fetch about $1.5 billion in revenue.