Vienna: In a major breakthrough that will end the 12-year long nuclear standoff between Tehran and the West, Iran and the so-called P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - have finally reached a landmark nuclear deal in Vienna, after prolonged negotiations over last 20 months.
While, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hailed it as a "historic moment"and EU praised it as a "sign of hope for the entire world", Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the accord, calling it a "historic mistake".
The deal comes after US Secretary of State and his Iranian counter part Javad Zarif strenuously engaged in intense nonstop talks in Vienna for last 17 days.
According to initial inputs, the deal says that Iran will curb its nuclear activities for over a decade in exchange of sanctions relief
The deal was signed on Tuesday as final impediments were cleared, a news agency said citing a Western diplomat.
"All the hard work has paid off and we sealed a deal. God bless our people," one diplomat told Reuters on condition of anonymity. A second Iranian official confirmed the agreement.
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini confirmed that a deal was concluded.
#IranTalks done. We have the agreement. #IranDeal
— Federica Mogherini (@FedericaMog) July 14, 2015
Speaking at the “final plenary" meeting, Mogherini said that it was a historic day and with "courage, political will, mutual respect and leadership, we delivered on what the world was hoping for".
EU spokesperson Catherine Ray tweeted the joint statement by EU High Representative @FedericaMog and Iranian FM @JZarif:
#IranDeal | Joint statement by EU High Representative @FedericaMog and Iranian FM @JZarif - http://t.co/2F5VuThniX #EUdiplomacy #IranTalks
— Catherine Ray (@CatherineEUspox) July 14, 2015
"It's an honor to announce that we have reached an agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue...It is a decision that can open the way to a new chapter in international relations".
We have successfully concluded negotiations and resolved a dispute that lasted more than 10 years #IranDeal @FedericaMog 5/6
— Catherine Ray (@CatherineEUspox) July 14, 2015
"#IranDeal shows that diplomacy, coordination, cooperation can overcome decades of tensions and confrontations" @FedericaMog
— Catherine Ray (@CatherineEUspox) July 14, 2015
#IranTalks @FedericaMog The decision we are going to take is much more than a nuclear deal. It can open a new chapter pic.twitter.com/7bdy3bhmQM
— Catherine Ray (@CatherineEUspox) July 14, 2015
According to the Reuters, which has managed to reveal some details of the deal, the UN-imposed arms embargo against Iran is to remain in force for five years, while the restrictions on rocket technology exchange are to be kept for eight years.
Also, the sanctions might be re-imposed within 65 days if Iran does not abide by the deal, says the Reuters.
The deal does not give the UN inspectors free access to Iranian military sites. Only if the UN inspectors doubt about any suspicious activity, then they can manage to get access by putting up a request for inspection which will then be considered by a committee, reports said. Also, Iran could challenge requests for access, the Associated Press quoted a diplomat.
No sooner did the reports of Iran nuke deal being sealed splashed the media than an Israeli Cabinet minister lambasted the accord as a "license to kill".
In her Facebook post, Israeli culture minister Miri Regev (also former IDF spokesperson), said that the mere fact that Iran was celebrating was a proof enough that it was a bad deal.
However, the deal is being praised by the West and Iran with President Hassan Rouhani calling it an example of "constructive engagement".
#IranDeal shows constructive engagement works. With this unnecessary crisis resolved, new horizons emerge with a focus on shared challenges.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) July 14, 2015
Just now, Iran and @iaeaorg agree to accelerate cooperation with aim to fully resolve all prior issues. #IranTalks pic.twitter.com/MjtKsfCvsO
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) July 14, 2015
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif had earlier tweeted about a possible finalisation the deal, calling it a "triumph of diplomacy".
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called it a "historic mistake".
"When ready to make an agreement at any price - this is the result...the agreement is a historic mistake," Netanyahu tweeted.
"Iran will get hundreds of billions of dollars to fuel its terror machine,"Netanyahu said in another tweet. He added that Israel will remain committed to "prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons".