Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Iran and US Meet Again to Discuss Nuclear Agreement

Secretary of State John Kerry met with Iran's foreign minister, Javad Zarif, on Sunday to further discuss a nuclear agreement that was put into place November 2013. The nuclear agreement stated that Iran agreed to halt "its most sensitive uranium enrichment activities in return for an easing of western sanctions." The agreement began in January and will be in effect for six months as long as Iran keeps up with their end of the bargain. Iran is to "receive $4.2bn in Iranian assets of oil revenue blocked overseas in eight installments over six months." If Iran continues to stop its 20% enrichment program and converts half of its 20%-enriched uranium to oxide, and dilute the other half to 5%, America and the EU will lift sanctions on petrochemical products, insurance, gold and other metals, passenger plane parts and services. Talks between Zarif and Kerry which increased after President Hassan Rouhani was elected, has led to less tense ties between the west and Iran.

European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, who met with Zarif on Friday stated that "Iran had agreed to a new round of negotiations in Vienna with the five permanent members of the UN security council plus Germany." The United States is hopeful that the renewed ties with Iran will lead to a promising future. Iran has to only follow through with its agreement.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/02/iran-us-meet-discuss-nuclear-agreement

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