World powers welcome Iran nuke deal

The UN and the European Union along with the UK, Russia and China today welcomed the historic agreement reached between Iran and six world powers on Tehran's contentious nuclear programme and asked all parties to build on the "encouraging" start.

Warmly welcoming the interim agreement that would temporarily freeze Iran's nuclear programme, UN chief Ban Ki-moon congratulated the negotiators for the progress made in "what could turn out to be the beginnings of a historic agreement for the peoples and nations of the Middle East region and beyond."

The Secretary-General urged the governments of Iran, the US, Russia, China, UK, France and Germany to do "everything possible to build on this encouraging start, creating mutual confidence and allowing continued negotiations to extend the scope of this initial agreement," his spokesman said.

EU President Herman Van Rompuy also hailed the "courage" shown by Iran and world powers in their negotiations on the deal, but also urged its "punctual" implementation.

"It is now crucial to ensure punctual implementation of the agreement reached and to continue working, on the basis of the trust that is being built, towards a definitive settlement of this issue," Van Rompuy said of the agreement which offers Iran in exchange limited sanctions relief.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said, "We've done it in a spirit of cooperation, good atmosphere, and although it has been intensive, and very, very detailed, it has also been done with a real sense of mutual respect. I'm delighted that we've got there."

British Foreign Secretary William Hague hailed the nuclear agreement between Western powers and Iran as "good for the whole world."

"This is an important moment, an encouraging moment, in our relations with Iran and in our efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation in the world," Hague said.

"This agreement shows it is possible to work with Iran, and through diplomacy address intractable problems," he said.

"This agreement will help to uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation system, (and) safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East," Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said in a statement.

"It will also help parties to begin to carry out normal exchanges with Iran, and will help provide a better life for the Iranian people," Wang added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also praised the deal and stressed it would benefit all sides.