Iranian FM says sanctions on Iran to be lifted on Saturday

TEHRAN - Sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the United States and the United Nations are expected to be lifted on Saturday after confirmation of Iran's fulfillment of commitments to denuclearization, said Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Zarif made this statement as he led an Iranian delegation that arrived in the Austrian capital of Vienna earlier Saturday, according to Iran's state news agency ISNA.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Saturday is expected to release a report on whether Iran has completed its commitments under an international nuclear deal reached last year.

With the release of the IAEA report, a joint statement will be unveiled to announce the beginning of the deal, said Zarif.

Zarif is expected to meet with US State Secretary John Kerry and European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to discuss the landmark Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) ahead of its implementation.

Under the July 14, 2015 nuclear agreement, Iran agreed to shrink its atomic program in exchange for the lifting of some EU, US and UN sanctions.