Iran expects major powers to keep nuclear pledges:Iranian FM

TEHRAN,Apr.22(MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that since the international nuclear watchdog has confirmed that Iran is complying with the terms of the interim nuclear deal with the major powers, it expects reciprocity in this regard. “As IAEA has once again confirmed, we're keeping our pledges -- intend to continue doing so. Expecting reciprocity in this regard,” Zarif wrote on his twitter account on Monday. “We'll negotiate at negotiating table, not in public. We should be forward looking to proceed. Onus to succeed on all sides to overcome hurdles,” he added. On Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency published a report confirming that Iran has acted to cut its stockpile of higher-grade enriched uranium by nearly 75 percent in the implementation of a landmark pact with the major powers, according to Reuters. The monthly update by the IAEA, which is tasked with verifying that Iran is living up to its part of the accord, made it clear that Iran is taking the agreed steps to scale back its nuclear program. The IAEA update showed that Iran had diluted half of its higher-grade enriched uranium reserve. Tehran has also continued to convert the other half of its stock of uranium gas refined to a 20 percent fissile purity into oxide for making reactor fuel. Iran and the six major powers -- the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Russia, and China -- struck an interim deal in November, under which Tehran agreed to limit part of its nuclear activities in return for the easing of some sanctions imposed on the country over its nuclear program. They have set a July 20 deadline to clinch a long-term deal that would lead to a gradual lifting of all nuclear-related sanctions.