IAEA expert arrives in Iran

A senior inspector of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrived in Iran Saturday to monitor the implementation of the first step of Tehran's interim nuclear deal.

"The delegation of the agency's inspectors, headed by Massimo Aparo, will report start of Iran's voluntary measures to the agency Jan 20, thus the first step in implementing the Geneva Joint Plan of Action officially begins," Press TV quoted Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi as saying.

Aparo, who arrived ahead of an IAEA delegation in the Iranian capital, was scheduled to meet officials from the AEOI, said Kamalvandi.

On Jan 12, Iran and the six world powers - US, Russia, China, Britain, France plus Germany - finalised the agreement to start the implementation of the Geneva nuclear deal from Jan 20.

The accord, reached between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany in Geneva Nov 24 2013, was aimed at setting the stage for the full resolution of the West's decade-old standoff with Tehran over its nuclear energy programmme.

Kamalvandi also said that based on the commitments made during the talks, the six powers would also begin to ease sanctions on Tehran from Jan 20.

Under the Geneva deal, the six countries undertook to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Iran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities during a six-month period.

It was also agreed that no nuclear-related sanctions would be imposed on the country within the same timeframe.