US State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said Russia played an important role in reaching the framework agreement with Iran over its nuclear program.


WASHINGTON (Sputnik)�� Russia�s technical knowhow on�nuclear issues and common position with�the United States played a helpful role in�reaching the framework agreement with�Iran over�its nuclear program, US State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said on�Friday.

�The fact that we and Russia, even though we disagree on�so many issues, are on�the same page when it comes to�the Iran nuclear program has been very helpful inside�the negotiating room,� Harf said in�a press briefing. �It has shown the Iranians that even though we disagree on�so many issues we agree on�this.�

Harf explained that as�a nuclear power, Russia�s technical team was particularly helpful in�some of�the finer details of�negotiations, as�was its position as�a permanent member of�the UN Security Council, which will ultimately play a role in�lifting the existing sanctions against�Iran.

According to�the Thursday�s agreement between�Iran and the P5+1 group of�countries, Iran�s breakout time to�develop a nuclear weapon would be increased from�the current two-to-three months to�a year.Tehran will have to�reduce by�two-thirds the number of�centrifuges and reduce by�97 percent its stockpile of�low-enriched uranium.

Iran agreed to�stop uranium enrichment at�its Fordow facility, while a limited number of�first generation centrifuges will be allowed to�operate at�Natanz.

Advanced centrifuges will be placed under�storage by�the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

At its Arak facility, Iran agreed to�redesign and rebuild the heavy water research reactor with�a design that will be unable to�produce weapons-grade plutonium, and to�destroy and send to�a third country the existing reactor and spent fuel.

As part of�the deal, Iran will also not build any new enrichment facilities for�15 years.

All provisions of�the deal will be strictly monitored by�the International Atomic Energy Agency, which will have full access to�all of�Iran�s potential pathways to�developing a nuclear capability.In exchange, the P5+1 group of�countries agreed to�lift all US, EU and UN sanctions against�Iran related to�its nuclear program once Tehran�s compliance with�the deal is verified.

Thursday�s deal comes after�nearly 18 months of�negotiations between�Iran and the P5+1 group.

The framework agreement will be followed with�a comprehensive technical agreement set to�be reached by�June 30, 2015.

Russian officials have hailed the agreement as�a success, with�Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying on�Friday that the chances of�reaching a final deal are very high.

By Sputnik News