China, Japan Hail JCPOA Implementation
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Chinese government on Sunday welcomed the implementation of the nuclear deal finalized by Iran and six world powers in July 2015, known as the JCPOA, describing it as a “positive message to the international community”.
"This is a positive message to the international community in 2016," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a Sunday statement published on the foreign ministry’s website.
"Implementation Day is no doubt significant for the international non-proliferation regime, which is currently undergoing a test,” he added.
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida also hailed the implementation of the accord,saying it was "a result of strenuous efforts made by all the negotiating parties and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)".
"Seizing this opportunity of important progress, Japan will further strengthen the historically friendly relationship with Iran," Kishida stressed, Sputnik reported.
IAEA late on Saturday released a statement and confirmed Iran’s commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Shortly after the IAEA announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini announced in a joint statement that the implementation of the agreement has officially been started.
