EU to Lift Some of Iran Sanctions in December

Local Editor

France's foreign minister said Monday the European Union would likely lift some sanctions on Iran in December.

Laurent Fabius also said "Israel" - which blasted Sunday's agreement as a "historic mistake" - was not likely to launch any preventative strikes on arch-foe Iran, "because no one would understand" such a move "at this stage."

World powers sealed the agreement with Iran after four days of intense negotiations in Geneva, promising to ease some crippling US and EU sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Speaking on Europe 1 radio, Fabius said that EU foreign ministers would gather together in "a few weeks" to put forward a proposal to partially lift some sanctions, which the 28-member body will have to approve.
"This lifting of sanctions is limited, targeted and reversible," he said, adding that it would take place "in December".

The deal, which lasts for six months only while a more long-lasting solution is negotiated, also gives UN atomic inspectors more access to key nuclear facilities in Iran.

Tehran has agreed that it will not enrich uranium over five percent for the six-month period.

In return, the EU and United States will suspend sanctions on Iran's petrochemical exports and gold and precious metals sector.

US trade restrictions on the country's auto industry will also be suspended.
Altogether, Iran will receive some $7 billion in sanctions relief, Washington has said, and the powers have promised to impose no new embargo measures for six months.

Fabius said that Iran "commits to giving up the prospect of a nuclear weapon" as part of the interim deal.
"As much as Iran can move forward where civilian nuclear energy is concerned, it cannot do so for the atomic weapon," he added.

The six powers involved in the negotiations - the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany - have hailed the deal as a key first step that wards off the threat of military escalation.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team