25/11/2013 11:11
Iran welcomes nuclear deal which Israel calls 'mistake'
Cheering crowds have welcomed home the Iranian negotiators who secured a nuclear deal with world powers, while Israel called it a "historic mistake," the BBC reported.
US President Barack Obama telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, seeking to reassure him of Washington's commitment to Israel.
Sunday's deal in Geneva prompted a fall in oil prices on markets on Monday.
Iran has agreed to curb some of its nuclear activities in return for about $7bn (£4.3bn) in sanctions relief.
Hundreds of cheering supporters greeted Iran's negotiators as they arrived back in Tehran on Sunday, after reaching an interim nuclear agreement with the US, Russia, China, France, the UK, and Germany.
Carrying flowers and Iranian flags at Tehran's Mehrabad airport, they hailed Iran's foreign minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif, as an "ambassador of peace" and chanted, "No to war, sanctions, surrender and insult."
Speaking to Iranian state television at the airport, Mr Zarif said Iran was prepared to take the necessary steps to keep the deal on track. But he said the interim, six-month deal agreed in Geneva could be halted by Tehran at any stage:
"All the measures that we will take, the confidence-building measures, are reversible, and they can be reversed fast. Of course, we hope we don't have to do this."