UN chief congratulates all sides over Iran n-deal framework

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated six major world powers and Iran for achieving a political framework in the nuclear talks in Lausanne, Switzerland.

In a statement released on Thursday, Ban said the framework paved the way for an historic comprehensive joint plan of action to be achieved by June 30, Xinhua news agency reported.

"That comprehensive agreement will provide for substantial limits on Iran's nuclear programme and for the removal of all sanctions," the statement said.

"It will respect Iran's needs and rights while providing assurances to the international community that its nuclear activities will remain exclusively peaceful," it added.

Foreign ministers of the P5+1 group of world powers -- the US, Britain, France, Russia, China plus Germany -- agreed on Thursday on parameters to resolve major issues on Iran's nuclear programme, following eight-day-long intense negotiations in the Swiss city of Lausanne, with a view to sealing a final comprehensive pact by the end of June.

Under the parameters unveiled by the Obama administration, Iran agrees to reduce its installed centrifuges to 6,104 from some 19,000, suspend the enrichment of uranium over 3.67 percent for at least 15 years and cut its stockpiled low-enriched uranium from about 10,000 kg to 300 kg for 15 years.

In addition, Iran allows regular access to all of its nuclear facilities for inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, and agrees to redesign and rebuild a heavy water research reactor in Arak that will not produce weapons-grade plutonium.

In return, the US and the European Union will suspend sanctions on Tehran, along with lifting all of the UN Security Council's past sanction resolutions.

Ban said he believed that a comprehensive, negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue would contribute to peace and stability in the region and enable all countries to cooperate urgently to deal with the many serious security challenges they face.