Iran nuclear agreement 'reached'

World powers have reached a deal with Iran on limiting Iranian nuclear activity in return for the lifting of international economic sanctions.

Iran's foreign minister called the agreement "historic", saying it opened a "new chapter of hope".

It reportedly gives UN nuclear inspectors extensive but not automatic access to sites within Iran.

Negotiations between Iran and six world powers - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - began in 2006.
The so-called P5+1 - want Iran to scale back its sensitive nuclear activities to ensure that it cannot build a nuclear weapon.

Iran, which wants crippling international sanctions lifted, has always insisted that its nuclear work is peaceful.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the deal was "a sign of hope for the entire world".

"It is a decision that can open the way to a new chapter in international relations," she said.

The text of the deal has not been released but these are some of the details it is believed to contain:

A compromise over the inspection of sites within Iran, the Associated Press quotes a diplomat as saying - UN inspectors would be allowed to monitor military sites but Iran could challenge requests for access

Iran has accepted that sanctions could be restored in 65 days if it violates the deal, Reuters cited diplomats as saying

A UN arms embargo and missile sanctions would remain in place for five and eight years respectively, Reuters reports

BBC