1st LD: UN Security Council endorses Iran nuclear deal

The UN Security Council on Monday endorsed the newly-reached agreement between Iran and major world powers on Iranian nuclear issues, kicking off a process to lift UN sanctions on Iran.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member body endorsed the deal and urged its full implementation on the timetable established in the agreement.

The agreement, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), clinched on July 14 between Iran and the P5+1 -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany, is expected to put Iran on the path of sanctions relief but more strict limits on its nuclear program after two weeks of tough negotiations in Vienna, Austria.

According to the resolution, the council will terminate its sanctions on Iran upon receiving a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency that verifies Iran's implementation of its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA.

The commitments include Iran's redesigning its Arak heavy-water reactor, converting its Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant into a technology center, removing centrifuges and uranium-enrichment-related infrastructure, among others.

Once the council has been assured that these tasks have been fulfilled, the Iranian sanctions regime, established in previous UN Security Council resolutions since 2006, will be terminated. Endi