The UN committee monitoring sanctions against Iran has welcomed a recent nuclear deal between Tehran and six major world powers, but says all Security Council sanctions will remain in force until a final agreement is reached.The committee on Thursday gave its first briefing after Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France, Britain and the US - plus Germany inked the deal in the Swiss city of Geneva on November 24.
The deal is aimed at setting the stage for the full resolution of the Wests decade-old dispute with Iran over the countrys nuclear energy program.
In exchange for Iran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities, the six countries have undertaken to lift some of the existing sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Addressing the meeting, US Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Rosemary DiCarlo said, In the coming weeks and months, our diplomats and experts expect to meet with Iran to see if a comprehensive deal is possible.
Any such deal must address squarely the Security Council's multiple resolutions on this matter, a principle that the joint plan of action (the Geneva nuclear deal) specifically states. In the meantime, however, these Security Council resolutions remain in force. All UN sanctions remain in force, she added.
The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with the US and the European Union using the unsubstantiated claim as an excuse to impose illegal sanctions against Tehran.
The bans come on top of four rounds of US-instigated UN Security Council sanctions against Iran under the same pretext.
Iran has categorically rejected the allegation, stressing that as a committed member of the International Atomic Energy Agency and a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned that the recent nuclear deal between Iran and the Sextet will be dead if the US imposes further sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
The entire deal is dead. We do not like to negotiate under duress. And if Congress adopts sanctions, it shows lack of seriousness and lack of a desire to achieve a resolution on the part of the United States, Zarif said.
By Press TV
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