EU Foreign Affairs Council offers to ease sanctions on Iran

Brussels/Tehran, Dec 17, IRNA – EU Foreign Affairs Council in a meeting in Brussels on Monday offered to ease sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. The Council said ˈIran has to implement its commitments in good faith.ˈ And in return, ˈthe Council is committed to take the necessary steps and to suspend those EU sanctions as set out in the Joint Plan of Action immediately after the IAEA has verified the implementation of the nuclear-related measures by Iran and on the basis of a recommendation by the High Representative. The Ministers stressed that ˈA swift implementation of the voluntary measures by all sides is now key.ˈ The Council welcomed the recent success in nuclear talks between the P5+1 and Iran, and endorsed the agreement on a Joint Plan of Action reached on November 24 in Geneva. ˈThis agreement is a long-awaited signal of the commitment of all sides to build trust and reduce tensions and to continue diplomatic efforts towards a comprehensive solution to the major concerns about Iranˈs nuclear activities,ˈ the European Council said in a press release. Iran and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States, Britain, Russia, France, China-- plus Germany, sealed an interim deal in the Swiss city of Geneva last month to pave the way for ending Iranˈs nuclear stand-off with the West.