West begins process to end sanctions against Iran

VIENNA/TEHRAN - Western countries have taken pragmatic steps to start the process of lifting their sanctions against Iran while Iran has responded positively and voiced the hope that some of those sanctions can be lifted this year.

The European Union (EU) on Sunday adopted the legislative framework for lifting all of its nuclear-related economic and financial sanctions against Iran, according to a joint statement issued by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Both sides also announced the start of the implementation of the nuclear deal reached between Iran and the six world powers on July 14 in the Austrian capital of Vienna, according to the statement.

Iran will start implementing its obligations pertaining to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and the UN nuclear watchdog will prepare the means to monitor Iran's measures, the statement read.

Earlier on Sunday, US President Barack Obama ordered his administration to take steps to lift sanctions on Iran by implementing the Iranian nuclear deal reached in July.

"I hereby direct you to take all necessary steps to give effect to the US commitments with respect to sanctions" on Iran, Obama said in a memorandum to US secretaries of state, energy, commerce and the treasury.

The steps will take effect upon confirmation by the secretary of state that Iran has met its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Obama said in the memorandum issued by the White House.

Also on Sunday, Iran notified Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), that it will provisionally apply the Additional Protocol to its Safeguards Agreement when the nuclear deal comes into effect, the IAEA announced in a statement.