Iran Nuclear Deal Approved in Tehran

The final step for this nation to start carrying out the nuclear agreement with six world powers was completed Wednesday when an oversight panel ratified the bill passed by parliament supporting the deal.

The 12-member council, half appointed by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and half by the country’s judicial chief with parliament’s approval, must sign off on all bills before they become law.

It is to result in the lifting of sanctions on Iran once Tehran scales down its civilian nuclear programme and answers questions by the IAEA about a dozen suspect research and development projects that were conducted in the past.

“There were 161 votes in favor of the bill, 59 votes against and 13 abstentions, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency”.

The Guardians Council, which ensures legislation does not violate Iran’s constitution and Islamic rules, approved on Wednesday a Tuesday parliamentary vote that endorsed the deal curbing Iran’s atomic programme in exchange for an end to sanctions.

He went on to say that implementation of July’s landmark agreement between world powers and Iran – which calls for the removal of longstanding sanctions on the latter – would go into effect next week.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said global efforts and sanctions pressures meant to drive the economy back into recession backfired.

The bill also requires the Iranian government to work toward the nuclear disarmament of Israel, which has the region’s sole, if undeclared, nuclear arsenal. It also bans Iran from producing or deploying its own nuclear weapons, while urging its officials to take “necessary measures” to prevent the US and the West from penetrating the country, a concern mentioned by Khamenei in recent weeks. The United Nations Security Council approved the deal July 20, and efforts by Republicans in Congress to derail the accord in September failed.

Despite the victory, Rouhani and his allies face challenges. It did not disclose the location but said it was 1,600 feet underground.

“Sanctions [on Iran] will be lifted and we will see the effects of this on our economy”, Rouhani told Iran’s IRIB’1 TV during a live interview on Tuesday.