Iran to start implementing nuclear deal in weeks: FM

TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that his country would kick off implementing a nuclear agreement struck with world powers in the next few weeks.

Hundreds of cheering supporters greeted Iran’s nuclear negotiators at airport as they arrived back to Tehran.

The crowd, mostly young students, called both Iran's foreign minister and its top nuclear negotiator "the Ambassador of Peace". They carried flowers and Iranian flags. Among them were the families of slain nuclear scientists, as well as lawmakers and other officials.

"In the coming weeks - by the end of the Christian year - we will begin the programme for the first phase," Zarif said in a live interview at the airport.

"At the same time, we are prepared to begin negotiations for a final resolution as of tomorrow."

The people chanted: "We are thankful in the capacity of eight years." That referred to the eight years of poor relations Iran had with the west under former hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

They also chanted: "No to war, sanctions, surrender and insult."