Iran, world powers due to debate on sanction extension

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that six world powers and Iran will meet on Jan. 10 to consider a recent U.S. decision to extend sanctions against Tehran, official IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday.

Zarif made the remarks on Monday briefing the Iranian Majlis (parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Commission on the implementation of the nuclear deal, known as JCPOA.

Iran and six major world countries, namely the United States, Britain, China, Russia, France and Germany (known as the P5+1 group) reached an agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue in July 2015 which puts Iran on the path of sanctions relief but more strict limits on its nuclear program.

On Saturday, Zarif called for a joint meeting of Iran and the six world powers to discuss the recent U.S. extension of Iran Sanctions Act (ISA), which Iran says is a violation of the nuclear agreement.

The ISA was first adopted in 1996 to sanction Iran over its controversial nuclear program.

The meeting goes along with the presidential orders to the Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran to take appropriate measures in the face of the extension of the ISA, Zarif was quoted as saying on Monday.

The Foreign Ministry has a clear roadmap to follow vis-a-vis the U.S. failure to implement its obligations, Zarif said, adding that Iran has held continuous talks with other members of the P5+1 group particularly with China and Russia insisting on the implementation of the JCPOA. Endit