DHAKA: International sanctions on Iran will be lifted in hours when the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issues its final report on Tehran’s nuclear program.

Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying, reports Al Jazeera.

Zarif arrived in Vienna earlier on Saturday, where the IAEA was expected to release the report confirming that Iran has completed its commitments under last year’s nuclear deal, triggering ‘Implementation Day’ and the lifting of sanctions.

‘Today with the release of the IAEA chief’s report the nuclear deal will be implemented, after which a joint statement will be made to announce the beginning of the deal,’ Zarif was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.

‘Today is a good day for the Iranian people as sanctions will be lifted today,’ Zarif also reportedly said.

The report, if issued, would mark the consummation of the July 14, 2015 nuclear agreement, under which Iran agreed to shrink its atomic program in exchange for the lifting of some EU, US and UN sanctions.

This would allow billions of dollars of investment to flow into the country.

Zarif was due to meet his US counterpart John Kerry, the EU’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, and IAEA chief Yukiya Amano later on Saturday.

** US, EU and Iran to meet on nuclear deal

BDST: 1529 HRS, JAN 16, 2016
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