Geneva_ Six major powers and Iran have reached a nuclear agreement that will be signed here tonight, diplomats announced here tonight.
“We have reached agreement between E3+3 and Iran,” Michael Mann, spokesperson for European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton announced on Twitter at 3AM.
“We have reached an agreement,” Iranian Foreign Ministef Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter.
“Deal,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said by email.
Zarif and Ashton as well as US Secretary of State John Kerry and other P5+1 foreign ministers headed to the Palais des Nations to the sign the nuclear accord, at approximately 4AM.
President Obama was expected to give a statement from the White House on the Iran nuclear deal reached at 10:15PM ET. He was reportedly involved in the negotiations today via conference call, according to White House photographer Pete Souza (photo at right.)
The two phase agreement (see the State Department fact sheet on it, below the jump) would halt the expansion of Iran’s nuclear program for six months, during which time the parties aim to reach a comprehensive agreement.
“The fact is, if this first step leads to what is our ultimate goal, a comprehensive agreement, that will make the world safer,” Kerry said at a press conference in Geneva at 5am. “This first step actually rolls back the Iran nuclear program today, and enlarges its breakout time. It will make our partners safer, it will make our ally Israel safer.”
“The deal: halts progress of nuclear program including arak, neutralize 20 percent stockpile, intrusive inspections; has no recognition of right to enrich; sanctions still enforced,” a senior US administration official said.
It has already drawn fierce opposition from Israel and Saudi Arabia. Israel has objected to even minimal sanctions relief for concessions short of a full dismantling of Iran’s military nuclear program, including its domestic enrichment.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who was thought to cause an upset at a previous round of nuclear talks here this month, gave journalists a thumbs up as he departed the Intercontinental Hotel tonight, where the past five days of talks have mostly taken place.
(Photo of US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif after they and the P5+1 signed an Iran nuclear deal at the Palais des Nations In Geneva November 24, 2013. By Reuters/Denis Balibouse.)