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Azerbaijan welcomes launch of JCPOA on Iran's nuclear program

Xinhua, January 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Azerbaijan welcomes the launch of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran's nuclear program, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday.

Azerbaijan supports the determination and will demonstrated by the parties in achieving this progress, said the statement.

Azerbaijan also congratulates the Iranian people, and hopes this positive process will give impetus to the further development of a mutually beneficial partnership between Azerbaijan and Iran, the Ministry noted.

On July 14, 2015, the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States), the European Union (EU), and Iran reached a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to ensure that Iran's nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful.

Under the agreement, Iran was obliged to take steps to put it further away from developing a nuclear weapon while keeping a peaceful nuclear energy program. It must reduce its level of uranium enrichment, drastically reduce the size of its stockpile of enriched uranium, reduce the number of centrifuges and agree to unfettered international inspections.

In return, Iran will be able to sell its oil again on world markets and its banks will be able to connect to the global system. The country will also regain access to billions in assets frozen overseas.

Oct. 18, 2015 marked the Adoption Day of the JCPOA, the date on which the JCPOA came into effect and participants began taking steps necessary to implement their commitments.

Jan. 16, 2016, marked the Implementation Day of the JCPOA. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has verified that Iran has implemented its key nuclear-related measures described in the JCPOA, and the U.S. Secretary of State has confirmed the IAEA's verification. Iran has completed the necessary steps in a deal to restrict its nuclear program, meaning international economic sanctions are lifted.

Iran is the southern neighbor of the Azerbaijan Republic. The countries have had modern diplomatic relations since 1918. Iran recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991, and the countries established diplomatic relations in 1992. The two states share about 765 kilometers of land borders.

Azerbaijanis comprise by far the second largest ethnic group in the nation as well as by far the largest minority ethnic group. The largest population of ethnic Azerbaijanis in the world live in Iran, far outnumbering those in the neighbouring Azerbaijan Republic. Enditem