Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

The Joint Plan of Action reached between Iran and six countries in Geneva on November 24 will be implemented as of January 20, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on January 12.

Iran and six world powers - Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany - reached an agreement over the unresolved issues regarding the implementation of the Geneva deal.

After the talks held between Iranian and six countries' representatives, the sides finalized an agreement on ways to take the first step to implement the Joint Plan of Action.

Under the Geneva deal, the six countries undertook to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Iran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities during a six-month period.

Iran agreed to limit its uranium enrichment to 5 percent - the grade commonly used to power reactors. The deal also commits Iran to stop producing 20 percent enriched uranium and to neutralize its 20 percent stockpile.

Araqchi said that January 20 account for the first step of the Joint Plan of Action and that the two parties will proceed with contacts to reach a comprehensive agreement in a short period of time to end the decade-long dispute.

Araqchi made it clear that Iran will continue with 20 percent uranium enrichment by the end of the day on January 19 and will suspend 20 percent enrichment on January 20 and the western governments will honor their commitments about easing the sanctions from January 20.

He added that the other side will release $4.2 billion in Iranian frozen assets in eight stages and Iran, in return, will oxidize its 20-percent-enriched uranium within a year.

Reuters reported quoting U.S. official that the first $550 tranche would be paid on or about February 1, and the final payment, of the same amount, on or about July 20 a total of $900 million would depend on Iran diluting the enriched uranium.

EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton said in a statement issued on January 12, the six world powers will ask the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to verify the implementation of the landmark nuclear deal.

U.S. President Barack Obama hailed the recent agreement between Iranian and world powers.

"Now is the time to give diplomacy a chance to succeed," Obama said in a written statement.

Obama also urged the U.S. Congress not to impose additional sanctions on Iran, saying that will undermine the Geneva deal.

Iranian officials also strongly criticized the Congress for calling new sanctions on Iran.

Araqchi warned that the Geneva deal between Iran and the six major world powers would be canceled if the U.S. congress approves new sanctions.

The number of the senators supporting the bill calling for new sanctions reached to 59 of 100 senators. The legislation needs just one vote to pass.

However, Obama said the new sanctions now only will risk the efforts to settle the nuclear dispute peacefully and he will veto any legislation enacting new sanctions during the negotiation.

If Obama vetoed sanctions passed by Congress, at least two-thirds of the members in each of the Senate and the 435-member House of Representatives would have to vote in favor of overriding the veto.

The House overwhelmingly passed a bill calling for tougher sanctions in July, months before the nuclear talks started.

On the other hand, the Iranian parliament warned it will ratify a bill to raise the uranium enrichment level in Iran to 60 percent if the U.S. imposes more sanctions against Iran.

In December 2013, Iranian lawmakers drafted a bill that, if passed, would oblige the government to produce 60-percent enriched uranium in line with the requirements of the nation's civilian nuclear program.

The bill would oblige the government to put the Arak heavy water reactor into operation and enrich uranium to the 60-percent purity level in order to provide fuel for submarine engines if the anti-Iran sanctions are tightened and Tehran's nuclear rights are ignored.

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said recently the country does not need to enrich uranium to the 60-percent purity level. However he also noted that if the parliament signs it into law, "We will have no option but to obey."