World powers, Iran to implement interim Geneva deal on Tehran's nuclear programme

An agreement was finalized between the P5+1 and Iran on ways to implement the first-step Geneva agreement on Tehran's nuclear program, according to a statement from European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton which was received by Xinhua here on Monday. Ashton, who has presented the P5+1 group during the previous rounds of Iran nuclear talks, said in the statement that initial measures to implement the interim Geneva deal inked in November were finalized after the latest two-day meeting which was concluded on Jan. 10, with the presence of EEAS Deputy Secretary General Helga Schmid on behalf of Ashton, and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. The technical and concrete measures were hammered out after three rounds of expert-level meetings between the P5+1 group, namyly the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China plus Germany, and Iran, partly with the involvement of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Ashton said that this agreement was subsequently endorsed by all capitals. "Thanks to this agreement on the implementation modalities, the foundations for a coherent, robust and smooth implementation of the Joint Plan of Action over the six-month period have been laid," said Ashton. The senior official said that the P5+1 and Iran would start to implement the first step from Jan. 20, 2014, and the IAEA will be asked to "undertake the necessary nuclear-related monitoring and verification activities". In November 2013, the P5+1 group and Iran reached an interim deal in Geneva whereby Iran would freeze part of its nuclear program in exchange for limited ease of sanctions which have taken a serious toll on Iran's economy. The latest agreement laid the ground to carry out the deal.