US President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting with veterans and Gold Star Mothers to discuss the Iran nuclear deal on Sept. 10, 2015 in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC. At left is US Marines staff sergeant Nathan Fletcher. (AFP PHOTO/MANDEL NGAN)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday 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 U.S. commitments with respect to sanctions" on Iran, Obama said in a memorandum to U.S. 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.
Obama issued the order on the so-called "Adoption Day," 90 days for the United Nations Security Council endorsed the Iranian deal.
The "Adoption Day" means Iran and the P5+1 -- namely the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China plus Germany -- will start implementing the obligations under the Iranian nuclear deal.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (C) listens as U.S. President Barack Obama meets with a group of veterans and Gold Star Mothers to discuss the Iran nuclear deal at the White House in Washington Sept. 10, 2015. Gold Star Mothers is an organization of mothers whose children have died while serving the U.S. in war or times of conflict. ( REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
But the sanction on Iran will not be lifted immediately on the "Adoption Day," and the U.S. has said that no relief from the sanctions will take place until the International Atomic Energy Agency verifies that Iran has fully complied with the terms of the agreement.
On July 14, Iran reached the JCPOA with P5+1 over its controversial nuclear program after more than 18 months of marathon talks.
Under the deal, all of the nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran will be lifted if the Islamic republic is proved to abide by the deal over the next 10 years step-by-step.
