Iran expects nuclear deal to be implemented this year
Iran is expected to reach a nuclear deal with six other nations by the end of the year, according to an official on Monday.
After meeting senior officials from the US, Russia, China, Britain, Germany and France in Vienna, Iran's nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi told Reuters he hoped for an agreement on Tehran's atomic programme in exchange for sanctions relief.
His remarks come after the US and the US took formal legal steps on Sunday to lift sanctions once Iran meets such conditions as lowering the number of centrifuges used to enrich uranium.
Germany's foreign minister said the EU sanctions were likely to remain in place at least until January.
Araqchi said Iran had not yet started mothballing centrifuges.
"We need an order by the president to the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation to start the job. That would be done after some preparations that we still need to do in the coming days. So it would soon start," Araqchi said.
The news weighed on oil prices with Brent and West Texas Intermediate futures down 2.4% to $46.13 barrel and Brent down 2.9% to $49.02 per barrel at 1729 BST.