Iran expects nuclear agreement to be implemented in JanuaryNovember 25, 2015 - 10:30 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran expects a deal it reached with world powers in July, under which sanctions will be lifted in return for it scaling down its nuclear program, to be implemented at the start of next year, Iranian nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday, November 23, according to Reuters. "We expect early January," Araqchi told reporters after meeting the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is tasked with verifying whether Iran is keeping its commitments under the deal. Iran is holding parliamentary elections on February 26 and diplomats say Tehran has been working hard to fulfill its commitments under the nuclear deal before that date. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani won by a landslide in 2013, promising a rapprochement with the West and an economic revival based on sanctions' relief. The IAEA said in a confidential report last week that Iran had disconnected almost a quarter of its uranium-enriching centrifuges in less than a month. Tehran is also required to reduce its stockpile of low-enriched uranium -- currently around 8,300 kg -- to 300 kg before the deal can be implemented. Iran has reached a deal with Russia to export some of its enriched uranium to Russia in exchange for yellowcake, a form of uranium which has been mined but not yet enriched, Araqchi said. The IAEA's Board of Governors is due to discuss the agency's assessment of the PMD file on Dec. 15. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenian delegation participating in NATO PA session The delegation is headed by Andranik Kocharyan, the chairman of the standing committee on defense and security matters. Schengen visa cost won’t change for Armenia – diplomat The increase in the cost of a Schengen visa will not apply to citizens of Armenia, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson has said. Yeremyan Projects opens state-of-the-art dairy production plant Yeremyan Projects officially launched the Yeremyan Products state-of-the-art milk processing plant in Yerevan on May 24. Armenian PM’s helicopter makes emergency landing in Vanadzor The helicopter transporting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made an emergency landing in Vanadzor. |