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You can be forgiven for missing it amid the excitement over the seven-ways leaders' election debate, but last night a major breakthrough was announced between Iran and the six major world powers.
After 18 months of talks over Iran's nuclear programme, diplomats announced that enough progress had been made to begin drafting the detailed provisions that will eventually see sanctions upon Iran lifted in return for it reducing its capacity to enrich uranium, as well as stockpiles of nuclear material.
Framework for the agreement:
Operations at two-thirds of Iran’s 19,000 centrifuges will be suspended.
Iran will only be permitted to enrich uranium at the Natanz plant, about 150 miles south of Tehran.
The subterranean Fordow facility will no longer be used to enrich uranium, but will remain open as a research and nuclear physics laboratory.
Arak, the site of Iran’s heavy water reactor, will also be modified.
Most of Iran’s enriched uranium stocks to be diluted or shipped abroad.
Iran will not build any new facilities for the purpose of enriching uranium for the next 15 years.
The deal will be monitored for 10 years, with Iran accepting regular International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors.
Iran will receive relief from sanctions when it “verifiably” abides by its commitments.
US president Barack Obama said it was a "good deal", while US secretary of state John Kerry tweeted:
In Tehran meanwhile, some Iranians took to the streets to celebrate confirmation of a tentative agreement being reached.
But Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanhahu tweeted:
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