Iran's Rouhani hails nuclear deal

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is seen making a speech to the nation in a still image taken from video broadcast by IRINN, July 14, 2015.[Photo/Agencies]

TEHRAN - The nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers is a new chapter in the relations between Iran and the International community, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said here in a live TV broadcast following a nuclear agreement between Iran and the world major powers on Tuesday.

In the speech, he also said that all Iranian objectives in the nuclear talks are met in the deal.

Iran's nuclear capabilities are preserved and nuclear activities will continue in the country, Rouhani said. The wrong and oppressive sanctions are removed, including UN security council sanctions against the country, he added.

Also, despite previous demands to rid Iran of centrifuges, Iran will keep 5,000 centrifuges in Natanz nuclear facility and 1,000 in Fordow. The centrifuges in Natanz will continue uranium enrichment, Rouhani said.

Earlier, Rouhani confirmed the deal on his Twitter account.

"Iran deal shows constructive engagement works. With this unnecessary crisis resolved, new horizons emerge with a focus on shared challenges," Rouhani posted on his Twitter account.

Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have agreed to accelerate cooperation to fully resolve all prior issues, he added.

Rouhani previously praised the nuclear talks as a victory of diplomacy and mutual respect over outdated paradigm of exclusion.

Under the deal, Iran will be recognized by the United Nations as a nuclear technology power in possession of peaceful nuclear program, including complete uranium enrichment cycle, official IRNA news agency reported.

Iran's nuclear program now is considered as a subject for international cooperation, within international standards, the report added, quoting a summary of the nuclear deal.

Also according to the summary, all UN financial and economic sanctions will be removed at once within the framework of the deal and by a new UN resolution.

The European Union (EU) and the US sanctions on Iran's banking, oil, gas, petrochemical, trade, insurance, transportation sectors will be lifted once the deal is put into practice, while tens of billions of dollars worth of Iranian revenues will be unfrozen.

However, Iran's arms embargo will be replaced by restrictions that allow import and export of defensive items. These restrictions will be removed in five years. Ban on Iran's missile program will be limited to ballistic missiles that can be used to carry nuclear warheads.

With the deal, Tehran will also be able to import sensitive double-purpose goods (such as radioactive medicine) through a joint committee of Iran and P5+1.

Iran will be also able to engage in international cooperation to construct newer nuclear reactors, research reactors and other advanced nuclear facilities.

Iran's nuclear facilities will continue to work, and none of them will be shut down or dismantled. The country will also keep uranium enrichment activities.

Under the deal, Arak will remain a heavy water reactor but will be modernized and equipped with the world's most advanced and safest technologies, said the report.

Iran will be recognized as a producer of nuclear products, especially enriched uranium and heavy water. It will be able to import and export nuclear products.