- NEW: U.S. and EU suspend some sanctions for 6 months
- All voluntary steps will be done by Monday evening, Iran says
- Iran struck the deal in November in exchange for lighter sanctions from Western powers
- State media: Iran starts eliminating its stockpile of higher levels of enriched uranium
(CNN) — Iran started suspending high levels of uranium enrichment Monday as an interim deal struck with six world powers went into effect, state media reported, making way for more talks and fewer sanctions.
All of its voluntary moves will be completed by Monday evening, Iran’s nuclear spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi told state-run news agency IRNA.
The United States and European Union announced that they were suspending certain sanctions for six months as part of the deal.
“In reciprocation for Iran’s concrete actions, the United States and its P5+1 partners — the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and China — as well as the European Union will today follow through on our commitment to begin to provide the modest relief agreed to with Iran,” said White House spokesman Jay Carney. “At the same time, we will continue our aggressive enforcement of the sanctions measures that will remain in place throughout this six-month period.”
Iran stopped enrichment of uranium to the 20% purity level and disconnected cascades of centrifuges enriching uranium in Natanz, a top nuclear official told state-runPress TV.
A centrifuge is a mechanism used to enrich uranium.
“From now on, the centrifuges which were used for producing 20% enriched uranium will be used for enriching uranium to the 5% purity level,” said Mohammad Amiri, a director in the nation’s nuclear agency.
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