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Iran nuclear: Curbs on uranium enrichment begin, state TV says Iran nuclear: Curbs on uranium enrichment begin
(35 minutes later)
Iran has begun curbing uranium enrichment, state TV says, under a nuclear deal which will also trigger an easing of international sanctions. Iran has begun curbing uranium enrichment under a deal which will also see international sanctions eased, the UN nuclear watchdog (IAEA) says.
Centrifuges used for enrichment were disconnected at the Nantaz plant, according to TV. Earlier, centrifuges used for enrichment were disconnected at the Nantaz plant, Iranian TV reported.
Diplomats and officials close to the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, confirmed that the process had begun.
The move is part of a nuclear deal reached with the US, Russia, China and European powers last November.The move is part of a nuclear deal reached with the US, Russia, China and European powers last November.
Curbs on enrichment should pave the way for partial suspension of EU and US sanctions, allowing Iran to restart petrochemical exports and trade in gold, worth billions of dollars. By the end of the day, Iran should be able to resume petrochemical and other exports, worth billions to its economy.
'Melting''Melting'
"The IAEA inspectors in the Natanz plant are disconnecting cascades," the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Ali Akbar Salehi, said. "The sanctions iceberg against Iran is melting.""The IAEA inspectors in the Natanz plant are disconnecting cascades," the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Ali Akbar Salehi, said. "The sanctions iceberg against Iran is melting."
The IAEA would not comment officially on the results of its inspection, but told the BBC that a report had been sent to the parties to the nuclear agreement. The IAEA confirmed that as of 20 January 2014, Iran had ceased enriching uranium above 5% purity, diplomatic sources in Vienna told the BBC.
An envoy to the UN agency told AFP news agency that Iran had started implementing its side of the deal: "It's all fine, all their requirements have been fulfilled." Reuters said it had obtained a leaked copy of the inspectors' report. "It's all fine, all their requirements have been fulfilled," an envoy to the UN agency told AFP.
The agreement is designed to prevent Teheran developing atomic weapons, though it denies trying to do so, saying its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes. A leaked copy of the inspectors' report suggested that enrichment above 5% purity had stopped at the Nantaz and Fordow facilities, Reuters news agency reported.
Once it is happy that Iran has begun restricting uranium enrichment, the EU is expected to start the process of easing sanctions. The nuclear deal is designed to prevent Teheran developing atomic weapons, though it denies trying to do so, saying its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes.
Ministers - including UK Foreign Secretary William Hague - are then likely to lead their EU counterparts in voting unanimously in favour of a partial lifting of the sanctions, which have been in place against Iran since 2006. Curbs on enrichment should pave the way for partial suspension of EU and US sanctions, allowing Iran to restart petrochemical exports and trade in gold, worth billions of dollars.
Under the terms of the agreement, reached with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, Russia, China, Britain and France - plus Germany, Iran will, according to US officials: Once happy that Iran is halting uranium enrichment, European Union foreign ministers in Brussels are likely to vote in favour of the partial lifting of the sanctions by the end of Monday. The sanctions have been in place against Iran since 2006.
"This is an important day in our pursuit of ensuring that Iran has an exclusively peaceful nuclear programme", EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told reporters outside the meeting venue.
Under the terms of the November agreement, reached with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, Russia, China, Britain and France - plus Germany, Iran will, according to US officials:
In return, US President Barack Obama has said the US and the other five powers over the next six months will begin to implement "modest relief" so long as Iran fulfils its obligations.In return, US President Barack Obama has said the US and the other five powers over the next six months will begin to implement "modest relief" so long as Iran fulfils its obligations.
"Meanwhile, we will continue to vigorously enforce the broader sanctions regime, and if Iran fails to meet its commitments we will move to increase our sanctions," he said."Meanwhile, we will continue to vigorously enforce the broader sanctions regime, and if Iran fails to meet its commitments we will move to increase our sanctions," he said.
The current six-month agreement is designed to provide breathing space while a more permanent deal can be reached.The current six-month agreement is designed to provide breathing space while a more permanent deal can be reached.
Sounding a note of caution, former IAEA deputy director Olli Heinonen said that if Iran decided to renege on the deal, it would only need two to three weeks to produce enough highly enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon.Sounding a note of caution, former IAEA deputy director Olli Heinonen said that if Iran decided to renege on the deal, it would only need two to three weeks to produce enough highly enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon.