WASHINGTON (AA) – America’s top diplomat will meet with his Iranian counterpart and a top EU official in Europe, the State Department announced Friday.
The meeting could point to an imminent announcement leading to Iran receiving billions of dollars in sanctions relief. Saturday’s consultations between John Kerry, Javad Zarif and EU High Representative Federica Mogherini in Vienna will focus on the implementation of the international accord brokered between six major world powers and Iran.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), provides Iran with billions of dollars in sanctions relief in return for unprecedented access to and curbs on its nuclear program.
“All parties have continued making steady progress towards Implementation Day of the JCPOA, which will ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.
Implementation day is the term used for the period in which sanctions will be lifted following certification by the UN nuclear watchdog agency that Iran has met its nuclear-related obligations under the accord.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, is expected to announce Iran’s compliance as soon as Saturday.
