- Iran has passed a major United Nations test on its nuclear weapons plan
- UN watchdogs confirmed that Tehran has ceased work on atomic weapons
- Major sanctions which have been in place since 2007 have been lifted
- Britain has hailed the historic deal claiming the world is now a safer place
The United States has lifted most of its sanctions against Iran after a UN watchdog reported that Tehran had complied with a nuclear weapons deal.
Iran has been under strict international sanctions since October 2007, although the Untied States has had some form of economic restrictions on Tehran since 1979.
However, a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said Tehran had fulfilled its commitments under a nuclear deal to prevent weapons development.
US secretary of state John Kerry, left, spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif in Vienna before the deal
Director of the International Atomic Enercy Agency Yukiya Amano, centre, passed a report onto the United Nations today which said that Iran had adhered to the terms of the new nuclear agreement
The historic agreement was ratified at the Palais Coburg Hotel in Vienna today, pictured
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal.
He said: 'This achievement demonstrates that international proliferation concerns are best addressed through dialogue and patient diplomacy.'
Under the July 20 resolution, Iran is now 'called upon' to refrain from work on ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons for up to eight years. Critics of the deal say the language does not make it obligatory.
The resolution allows for supply of ballistic missile technology and heavy weapons, such as tanks and attack helicopters, to Iran with Security Council approval, but the United States has pledged to veto any such requests.
The restrictions on ballistic missile technology are in place for eight years and on heavy weapons for five years. An arms embargo stopping Iran from buying or selling weapons remains in place for up to five years.
The resolution places restrictions on transferring nuclear technology to Iran for peaceful purposes for a decade.
The United States has lifted most of its sanctions against Iran following the positive report from the watchdog
Barack Obama delegated responsibility to his Secretary of State John Kerry, pictured, to secure the deal
It allows all U.N. sanctions to be re-imposed if Iran breaches the deal in the next 10 years. If the Security Council receives a complaint of a breach it would then need to vote within 30 days on a resolution to extend sanctions relief.
Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond praised the deal describing it as 'an important landmark'.
He said: 'The nuclear deal with Iran, in which Britain played a major role, makes the Middle East and the wider world a safer place
'There were many sceptics who said Iran would never deliver on its side of the bargain, but the independent International Atomic Energy Agency has said they have.
'Iran's nuclear programme has been substantially rolled back," he added, before urging British businesses to capitalise on the lifting of international sanctions against Iran.
'The future is as important as the landmark we've reached today.'
However, the Israeli government claimed that Iran was still intent on acquiring nuclear weapons.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, whose 2013 election helped launch the Herculean diplomatic effort towards the July 14 Vienna deal, said it was a 'glorious victory' for the 'patient nation of Iran'.
He tweeted: 'I thank God for this blessing & bow to the greatness of the patient nation of Iran.'
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