Iran and the Six countries reached an agreement

Iran and the Six countries (USA, France, UK, Germany, China and Russia) have reached an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions against Tehran, diplomats say.

As the BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins reports, by agreement Iran will allow the IAEA inspectors to their facilities, the countries of the West, in turn, will step by step remove sanctions from Iran. However, inspectors will not receive the right to appear at any time, anywhere.

“Inspectors will have to justify their visits. They will not have the right to access nuclear facilities at any time,” the correspondent explained.

A meeting of foreign ministers of the “six” countries is taking place in Vienna, which should put an end to many years of negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program. It is expected that after its completion, an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program will be officially announced.

The Six countries and Iran have prepared a 100-page document that details the conditions for reducing the Iranian nuclear program and lifting international sanctions against Tehran.

The crisis in relations between Iran and Western countries in connection with its nuclear program has lasted for 13 years.

"Real progress"

In the West, they suspect that Iran is trying to create its own nuclear weapons. Tehran categorically denies this.

According to the correspondent of the BBC in Vienna, all the foreign ministers participating in the negotiations are incredibly tired.

During a break in talks at the Palais Cobourg hotel, Mohammad Javad Zarif shouted to reporters from the balcony that he was tired and overworked. A little later, Zarif tweeted: “If the #IranDeal is achieved, then the triumph of diplomacy means we all win when we all could have lost. Everything is very simple; there is no need for explanation.”

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted that no agreement could be perfect.

The role of the US coress

Stumbling points in the negotiations between the “six” international mediators and Iran were the terms of international inspections at Iranian non-nuclear facilities, verification of Iran’s compliance with the terms of the agreement and the schedule for lifting international sanctions.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was expected to address the nation on television on Monday evening about the nuclear talks, but the official Irna news agency then said the president would speak only after an agreement had been reached.

President Rouhani's English-language Twitter account then deleted the message, which appeared to have been written in anticipation of a breakthrough in negotiations. “The #IranDeal is a victory for diplomacy and mutual respect over the outdated paradigm of isolation and coercion. And this is a good start,” the message said.

When a long-term agreement is reached, it must be approved by the US Congress. If the US Congressmen reject it, Iran will still remain under US sanctions.

Analysts say that whatever the outcome of these talks, any agreement would be historic, as it would not only allow trade with Iran to resume, but could also open up dialogue on the fight against a common enemy, the extremist group Islamic State.