Iran nuclear deal: agreement reached in Vienna - as it happened

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22.55

Thank you for following our live coverage of this historic deal. You can read a full article about the deal by David Blair in Vienna here and read a summary of the deal's points here.

To get an idea of how those fraught negotiations went, read David Blair's fascinating piece here.

And for all our Iran coverage visit our Iran page.

Thanks again.

21.30

There are widespread reports of celebrations in the streets of Tehran tonight. There are young people dancing and motorists honking their horns, according to Reuters. There is clearly hope in Iran that the economy will soon bounce back after years of crippling sanctions. That hope is shared by Iran's president:

20.40

Saudi Arabia has made its first official reaction to the agreement. It said it supported an agreement to stop Tehran gaining nuclear weapons but emphasised the importance of a strict inspections regime and the ability to reimpose sanctions, Reuters reports.

The comments, attributed to "an official source" by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, also stressed that sanctions relating to terrorism and violation of international arms treaties would remain intact.

20.14

Hillary Clinton has always been rather more hawkish on Iran than her old boss, Barack Obama.

She has formally welcomed the deal - and vowed to enforce it if she is elected president in 2016 - but as this clip of her brushing off a TV reporter earlier today shows, her support could be a little more enthusiastic...

20.07

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has made an official comment on the agreement via Twitter, praising the "honest and hard endeavours" of the country's nuclear negotiating team

19.58

While the deal already has a number of high profile detractors in Washington, Dianne Feinstein, a prominent senator and national security hawk, has come out strongly in favour.

19.32

Peter Foster our US Editor in Washington writes:

Up on Capitol Hill, Republican staffers are just starting to digest this deal, although they are still waiting for classified technical annexes, which a senior Republican senate aide says (citing White House legislative affairs office) will be sent up later this week.

Opponents of the deal are dwelling on Annex II which lists 30 pages of the Iranian companies and individuals who will no longer be sanctioned once the IAEA says Iran has met is obligations.

"It's appalling" says the senior aide to a senator who has long cautioned against the deal, sounding audibly aghast as he scrolls down the list of what he calls Iranian "bad actors" including Qasem Soleimani commander of Tehran's elite Quds Force.

"If these individuals and companies start to cheat, how are we even deal with that?" the aide asks.

Soleimani, who is listed as a terrorist by the US, was originally sanctioned for his role propping up the Assad regime in Syria, but last year was seen marshaling Shia militias and Iraq forces in the fight against Islamic State in Iraq.

There seemed to be some confusion earlier as to whether Soleimani will be taken off both US and EU sanctions list, but Fars News Agency seemed to be in no doubt.

18.55

There appear to be celebrations underway in the streets of Tehran. This picture comes from an Iranian journalist.

18.30

In addition to the backslapping calls to David Cameron, Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande, Barack Obama had what was surely a more difficult conversation, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr Netanyahu called the deal a "stunning historic mistake" earlier today.

18.24

Peter Foster in Washington reports the following from a briefing by Robert Einhorn, a former Obama adviser and expert on nuclear non-proliferation:

Robert Einhorn, a former special adviser on non-proliferation and arms control during the Obama administration, has given a tentative thumbs-up to the deal, although with the caveat that we still have “lots to learn” about some aspects.

Specifically he singled out a notable lack of detail surrounding the proposed creation of a “roadmap” between Iran and the IAEA setting out Iran’s past nuclear activities - something which many nuclear experts have said is essential to create a baseline for an effective monitoring mission.

The roadmap will be based on technical discussions between the international nuclear watchdog and – he presumes - Iranian scientists, but Mr Einhorn said much of the detail remained unclear after an initial reading of the technical annexes to the agreement.

“I think over the next days and weeks, especially as the [Obama] administration goes to the [Capitol] Hill to make its case, we’ll hear a lot more about this,” he said at briefing at the Brookings Institution where is now a senior fellow.

18.07

Barack Obama spoke with David Cameron today about the agreement. He also called Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande. White House statement:

The President thanked the leaders for their important role in achieving this milestone, the culmination of nearly 20 months of intense negotiations. The leaders affirmed that the JCPOA represents an historic solution that will verifiably prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon by cutting off all of the potential pathways to a bomb while ensuring the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program going forward. The leaders committed to remain in close coordination as the JCPOA is operationalized.

17.34

David Blair's account from Vienna of how the deal was done reveals just how close the process was to breaking down at times.

It was shortly before midnight when the world’s most senior diplomats began to behave most undiplomatically.

On the tenth day of their bid to reach agreement over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, tempers boiled over in the whitewashed splendour of the Palais Coburg in Vienna.

At 10.45pm last Monday, Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, went before all of his adversaries from the “P5 plus 1”. Arrayed around him in the conference room were the foreign ministers of the Security Council’s five permanent members plus Germany, along with Federica Mogherini, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

It was seven against one - but Mr Zarif gave as good as he got....

_{US Secretary of State John Kerry (AFP)}

17.20

Ian Stewart of King's College College London writes that the deal is "welcome" but imperfect.

While the deal is comprehensive and should be welcome, it should not be viewed as a perfect solution. 10 years after the agreement comes into effect, restrictions on Iran’s use of advanced centrifuges will end meaning Iran could very quickly produce stocks of enriched uranium for use in nuclear weapons. The agreement includes strong, ongoing monitoring measures that would detect this–perhaps the most comprehensive that have ever been employed -- and, partly as a result of these monitoring measures, Iran would probably be deterred from pursuing this course of action. Nonetheless, Iran’s nuclear program should be recognised for what it is: a latent nuclear weapons capability.

It should be noted also that we are missing bits of the agreement that will only be finalised when the United Nations Security Council adopts a resolution. There are some key issues outstanding, including with regards to Iran’s ballistic missile program. If, as some have suggested, sanctions on the missile program are lifted in 8 years time, Iran could have both a latent nuclear weapons capability and be advancing the ideal delivery mechanism for nuclear weapons in a little over a decade.

17.01

Here is an analysis of who gave up what from David Blair in Vienna. Read David's full breakdown of the deal here.

Both sides have given away a great deal.

Iran

will sacrifice two-thirds of its capacity to enrich uranium for at least 10 years, placing thousands of centrifuges – all of them obtained in the teeth of international pressure – into monitored storage.

America

and its allies, meanwhile, have conceded the vital principle that Iran will be allowed to have enrichment technology – and most restrictions will expire after a decade or so. They will also lift the most effective sanctions. In truth, this is a balanced deal, involving big concessions from all concerned.

16.46

This photo shows Barack Obama receiving a call from John Kerry last night. Mr Kerry was letting him know that negotiations over the deal had been completed

16.30

Jeb Bush, the Republican presidential front-runner, has come out strongly against the deal, saying "this isn't diplomacy- it's appeasement."

Many of Mr Bush's rivals for the Republican nomination have pledged to unravel the deal if elected. Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic candidate, supports the deal.

It was Mr Bush's brother, George W Bush, who placed Iran in the "Axis of Evil".

16.11

The Iran deal: what it is, what it means and what happens next:

16.05

Hillary Clinton, US Democratic presidential candidate, calls the new deal with Iran an "important moment" and says based on what she knows now it is a step toward curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"I think this is an important step that puts the lid on Iran's nuclear programs," the former US secretary of state said.

Mrs Clinton, speaking at the US Capitol after meeting with House of Representatives Democrats, also says the deal will allow the United States to turn its attention to preventing what it sees as other bad actions by Iran.

16.03

Hossein Mousavian, a former diplomat who served as Iran’s Ambassador to Germany (1990-1997), head of the Foreign Relations Committee of Iran’s National Security Council (1997-2005) and as spokesman for Iran in its nuclear negotiations with the European Union (2003-5), writes that today's nuclear deal paves the way for a new US approach towards the Middle East.

In a piece for the Telegraph, Mr Mousavian writes:

This deal opens the door to a new regional security framework in which the United States and Iran work to advance, rather than thwart, each other’s interests. The consequences of such co-operation will in all likelihood nurture a far more stable, peaceful, and prosperous Middle East that will cease to be a drain on the resources of regional and world powers.

15.55

David Blair has written an excellent piece on the 18 dramatic days in Vienna as negotiators tried to settle the Iran nuclear agreement. Here is an extract:

Bringing up the West’s dalliance with Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s is standard fare for any Iranian diplomat who wants to change the subject. Almost 30 years after the end of that conflict, Mr Zarif duly employed this hardy perennial.

But Ms Mogherini, who was seven when Saddam invaded Iran, showed her impatience. If Iran would not accept an arms embargo, she replied, then it would be better to end the talks immediately. “Never try to threaten an Iranian,” fired back Mr Zarif.

In the shocked pause that followed, Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s lugubrious foreign minister, played the unlikely role of peacemaker. “Or a Russian!” he added wryly, prompting a ripple of laughter that broke the tension.

^{Federica Mogherini and Mohammad Javad Zarif in Vienna}

15.45

Hillary Clinton has privately endorsed the Iran deal in meetings with members of Congress today, according to Vox, the news website.

She has previously been far more hawkish than Mr Obama on Iran, but is apparently signalling today that she will uphold the deal if elected president.

Bernie Sanders, Mrs Clinton's chief rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, has publicly applauded the deal.

15.39

The Telegraph's Middle East editor Richard Spencer has written about the arms dealers likely to profit from today's agreement.

He writes:

Russia and China are likely to be the two big beneficiaries as Iran looks to modernise its air force, which is particularly antiquated, and sharpen its already highly developed domestic missile production system.

Western arms companies such as British Aerospace and Lockheed Martin may be prevented from exporting to Iran, even after the deal, and would probably in any case not be first choice for a country which is a strategic ally of Russia and China.

But other companies may be able to sell items from the banned list which are not overtly military but have military use - from high grade metal alloys that can give extra range to missiles to drone technology and even high capacity computer equipment.

15.33

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country is not bound by the agreement and will always defend itself.

"Israel is not bound by this deal with Iran, and Israel is not bound by this deal with Iran because Iran continues to seek our destruction," Netanyahu told reporters. "We will always defend ourselves."

15.30

The ruler of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, sent a note of congratulations to Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday for Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers, the UAE's official news agency WAM reports.

The statement contained the first official comment by Gulf Arab countries towards a deal many of them privately fear will encourage Iran to back their enemies across the Middle East more forcefully.

US President Barack Obama plans to call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi King Salman and European allies about the Iran nuclear deal, US officials told reporters.

15.26

Ordinary Iranians are welcoming the country's historic nuclear deal, embracing it as a chance to end their nation's isolation and an opportunity for a better economy after years of stifling sanctions.

There are no signs of people pouring into the streets of Tehran after the deal was announced on Tuesday - but that may have more to do with the stifling summer heat and the fact that most Iranians are fasting during the last days of Ramadan, reports AP news agency.

Many instead were glued to television coverage of the deal. At one Tehran electronics shop, people clapped as President Hassan Rouhani appeared on screen to address the nation.

Shopkeeper Ali Hosseini summed up the mood by saying: "I am proud that my country has resolved this critical issue through talks, not war."

15.10

Russia has worked hard for today’s deal, and Moscow stands to benefit strategically and financially, writes Roland Oliphant in Moscow

It potentially re-opens one of

Russia’s most important arms markets

, and it empowers Russia’s most important ally in the Middle East.

Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said last week that he expected the UN embargo on arms supplies to Iran to be lifted “immediately” after a deal was struck.

"Iran is a consistent supporter of the struggle against Isil and lifting the arms embargo would help Iran to advance its efficiency in fighting terrorism," Mr Lavrov said at the time.

Translation: Iran needs guns, and Russia is poised to make a tidy profit providing them.

A 2010 UN Security Council resolution banned the sale of weapons including tanks, combat aircraft, and missile launchers - all things that Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state-owned arms dealer, had for years provided to Iran.

Frustratingly for Russia, the final deal will leave the embargo largely remain in place for another five years. But Moscow will already be looking forward to some lucrative deals once the restrictions are fully lifted.

^{Military hardware on show during this year's National Army Day in Tehran}

Another benefit for Moscow is that Iranian nuclear fuel will be reprocessed in Russia - which means another lucrative contract, along with an even tighter grip on the Iranian nuclear program.

But there is also a double edged sword for Russia. While it is unlikely Iran could rapidly expand its exports to become a competitor, most analysts believe a deal means oil prices will remain relatively low.

That is a headache for a Kremlin struggling to manage a shrinking budget, although for the time being the Russians appear confident that the benefits outweigh the risks.

More important are the implications for the Moscow-Tehran alliance. An end to international isolation would grant Iran much wider room for manoeuvre on the world stage. That is unequivocally good for Moscow as long as Iran remains a close ally.

But some Russian analysts worry that in the long term, it could allow Tehran to seek new partners to replace its sometimes fractious alliance with Moscow - weakening Russia’s hold over its key middle eastern ally.

15.07

The Holy See regards the Iranian nuclear programme in a positive light, reports Nick Squires in Rome.

The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, says in a statement:

It constitutes an important outcome of the negotiations carried out so far, although continued efforts and commitment on the part of all involved will be necessary in order for it to bear fruit. It is hoped that those fruits will not be limited to the field of nuclear programme, but may indeed extend further.

14.45

Reaction is flooding in from the US to the deal brokered in Vienna on Iran's nuclear programme.

Harry Reid, the US Senate Democratic leader, says the Iran nuclear agreement is the result of years of hard work by President Barack Obama and his administration in a brief statement that does not support or criticise the deal. Mr Reid says:

Now it is incumbent on Congress to review this agreement with the thoughtful, level-headed process an agreement of this magnitude deserves

House Speaker John Boehner is highly critical, arguing that sanctions relief will only "embolden" Tehran:

Instead of stopping the spread of nuclear weapons in the Middle East, this deal is likely to fuel a nuclear arms race around the world

US Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio:

I have said from the beginning of this process that I would not support a deal with Iran that allows the mullahs to retain the ability to develop nuclear weapons, threaten Israel, and continue their regional expansionism and support for terrorism.

Based on what we know thus far, I believe that this deal undermines our national security

Mr Rubio says that failure to obtain congressional support would tell the Iranians and the world "that this is Barack Obama's deal, not an agreement with lasting support from the United States."

14.24

David Blair has also written this handy guide on what happens next:

Now that the Iran nuclear deal has been struck, what happens next?

The first stage will be that America and its allies secure the passage of a new United Nations resolution. This will enshrine the agreement in international law and, crucially from Iran’s point of view, replace the six earlier resolutions which currently ban the country from enriching uranium. The Western powers stress that the text will also keep the UN arms embargo on Iran for five years and restrict Tehran’s missile programme for eight.

When do the sanctions get lifted?

After the new UN Resolution is passed, the US Congress will have 60 days to review the deal and deliver its verdict. Iran will begin to place its centrifuges into storage, export its uranium and redesign the Arak plutonium plant, in line with the deal. Once the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed Iran's compliance with these steps, then America and the EU will "terminate" all nuclear-related sanctions, including oil embargos and financial restrictions. John Kerry, the US secretary of state, says that sanctions would go in about six months.

Does that mean all the sanctions will disappear?

No. America and its allies will keep sanctions related to Iran’s human rights violations and to what they say is state support for terrorism. But the most significant sanctions, covering oil and financial transfers, will be lifted. This will provide a significant and immediate boost to Iran's finances, probably involving the release of at least $100 billion (£65 billion) of frozen Iranian assets.

What happens if Iran breaks the deal?

If Iran fails to scale down its nuclear plants in line with the agreement, Mr Kerry says that sanctions will “snap back” very rapidly. However, re-imposing the UN sanctions would require the consent of Russia and China, which would be very hard to obtain. America and the EU could, however, restore their own measures.

Who has made the biggest concessions?

Both sides have given away a great deal. Iran will sacrifice two-thirds of its capacity to enrich uranium for at least 10 years, placing thousands of centrifuges – all of them obtained in the teeth of international pressure – into monitored storage. America and its allies, meanwhile, have conceded the vital principle that Iran will be allowed to have enrichment technology – and most restrictions will expire after a decade or so. They will also lift the most effective sanctions. In truth, this is a balanced deal, involving big concessions from all concerned.

14.18

Here is the Iran nuclear deal text in full:

14.00

The Telegraph's David Blair explains the main points of the Vienna agreement on Iran's nuclear ambitions:

• Iran will sacrifice two-thirds of its ability to enrich uranium, the vital process that could be used to make the core of a nuclear bomb. All but 6,000 of Iran’s 19,500 centrifuges will be placed in storage, monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

• Iran will export all but 300kg of its entire stockpile of eight tonnes of low-enriched uranium.

• The combined effect these measures will be to place Iran about 12 months away from having enough weapons-grade uranium for one nuclear bomb – compared with its current “breakout” time of three or four months.

• The Fordow enrichment plant, which was built in secret inside a hollowed-out mountain, will be converted into a research centre. Almost two-thirds of the centrifuges in Fordow will be removed and the remaining 1,000 will not be used to enrich uranium.

• Iran’s heavy water plant at Arak will be redesigned and rebuilt to make it impossible to produce weapons-grade plutonium.

• Iran will implement the “Additional Protocol” safeguards agreement, giving IAEA inspectors more powers to monitor its nuclear plants and other facilities.

• Once the IAEA has confirmed that Iran has taken these steps, America and its allies will lift all nuclear-related economic sanctions, including oil embargos and financial restrictions. This could release over $100 billion (£65 billion) of frozen Iranian assets.

• America and its allies will also recognise Iran’s right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, as guaranteed by the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

• Iran will remain subject to a UN arms embargo for five years. Restrictions will stay on its ballistic missile programme for another eight.

13.57

Pascal Carlucci of King’s College London writes:

The nuclear deal signed today does not limit the influence of Iran in the region, nor it makes Israel any safer than before. A complete dismantlement of the nuclear programme in exchange for the end of sanctions would have. The suspicion that ultimately Iran will get a nuclear warfare capability will still be there after this deal. It may be unjustified or merely psychological, but it will generate tangible consequences.

The next US President will have to work extremely hard to deter Iran from any possible action that could harm Israel. According to Kenneth Pollack, as a result of this deal Saudi Arabia may want to pursue a nuclear programme to match Iran’s or acquire a nuclear bomb from Pakistan. If the seed of nuclear proliferation is planted in the Middle East, the world will not be a safer place.

13.53

Here is Barack Obama's statement on the deal:

13.49

Bob Corker, the influential senator and author of the "Corker Bill" which would block Mr Obama from removing sanctions on Iran without Congressional approval, has released a statement:

Throughout these negotiations, I have expressed significant concerns to the administration about the crossing of red line after red line as we have moved from a goal of dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities to managing its proliferation. I want to read the agreement in detail and fully understand it, but I begin from a place of deep scepticism that the deal actually meets the goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

In the coming days, Congress will need to scrutinise this deal and answer whether implementing the agreement is worth dismantling our painstakingly-constructed sanctions regime that took more than a decade to establish. Iran continues to be the lead sponsor of terrorism in the world and relieving sanctions would make the Tehran regime flush with cash and could create a more dangerous threat to the United States and its allies.

^{US secretary of state John Kerry}

13.36

David Cameron describes the deal with Iran as historic, saying it "secures our fundamental aim - to keep Iran from developing a nuclear weapon - and that will help to make our world a safer place."

He says the deal required leadership, courage and determination and that it was time to move forward and put it into place.

Mr Cameron said Iran will reap economic benefits, so long as it delivers on everything it has agreed to do.

13.24

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani pledged that Iran "will never seek a nuclear weapon, with or without the implementation" of the deal agreed with world powers in Vienna.

Mr Rouhani said live on state television that such weapons were "against our religion" and contradicted a decree from supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei barring the pursuit of an atomic bomb.

13.21

Lindsey Graham, hawkish Republican senator and presidential candidate, called the deal "akin to declaring war on Israel", reports David Lawler in Washington.

"It is going to set into motion a decade of chaos ... every Arab is going to want a weapon," Mr Graham said in a TV interview.

"I really think that John Kerry and Barack Obama are incredibly naive... I think John Kerry is a good man but at the end of the day they want a deal so bad they can't stand it."

13.12

Here is Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond's statement in full:

After more than a decade of tough negotiations we have reached an historic agreement that will impose strict limits and inspections on Iran's nuclear programme.

Under the agreement, Iran will grant the International Atomic Energy Agency access to verify adherence to the restrictions placed on its nuclear programme, giving the international community confidence that the programme is, and will remain, exclusively peaceful.

In return, once Iran has taken key steps to introduce these restrictions, the international community will lift some of its sanctions on Iran, delivering significant economic and financial benefits.

Having reached this important agreement, our focus will now be on its swift and full implementation to make sure that a nuclear weapon remains beyond Iran's reach.

We recognise the concern in the region about Iran's historic pattern of regional activity. We will maintain our clear position in support of the Gulf states and against Iranian interference in their internal affairs. We hope, and expect, that this agreement will herald a step-change in Iran's relations with its neighbours and with the international community.

The removal, over time, of economic and financial sanctions represents a huge opportunity for Iranians to make positive decisions about their country's future and its role in the region.

We will continue to work closely with our international partners to encourage Iran to play a transparent and constructive role in regional affairs, particularly in the struggle against violent Islamist extremism.

13.11

John Bolton, who served as US representative to the UN, tweets:

13.05

Andrew Critchlow, the Telegraph's commodities editor, has been assessing how the news has been greeted on the financial markets:

Oil fell almost 2pc in London as news of a deal to lift economic sanctions on Iran hit the market.

Brent crude was trading at around $56 per barrel as negotiators successfully concluded nuclear talks in Vienna that could result in the Islamic Republic of Iran reopening for business.

Iran is the world’s second largest holder of natural gas reserves and holds the fourth largest stocks of crude oil. However, it has been unable to sell all of its oil or attract international investment since sanctions to prohibit its nuclear ambitions were first imposed.

Last month at a meeting of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), Iran’s oil minister Bijan Zanganeh confidently stated that the Islamic Republic will pump an additional 1m barrels per day (bpd) of crude within months of nuclear sanctions being lifted.

13.00

Our Iran watcher, Ahmed Vahdat, says divides have already appeared in the Tehran political establishment over whether the deal should be publicly celebrated. There were suggestions that people should be prevented from parading through the streets hooting their car horns, which has happened at previous stages of the agreement as residents looked forward to a lifting of sanctions. Celebrations were "premature and falling into the trap of the enemy", hardliners said.

Iran's Interior Minister Rahman Fazli tweets and says public should ignore the hardliners and burst onto streets in celebration.

However, the Interior Ministry asked police forces across the country to "prepare the ground for the nation's celebrations on the streets".

The conservative daily, Resalat, has now urged readers to "neither celebrate nor mourn this deal"

Our struggle with the global arrogance [US] will continue beyond this nuclear deal. We have just won one diplomatic battle with it but the economic, political and military battles still remain ahead of us. In any case, looking at the list of what we have achieved in this nuclear agreement hardly leaves us with any sense of celebrations. Yet, to sit back and mourn is not also justified as then we would be seen as the losers and taking away any credit from the hard works that our revolutionary children have carried to date.

12.50

John Kerry, US secretary of state, tweets from Vienna:

12.45

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has congratulated its key ally Iran on reaching a nuclear deal with world powers, state media report.

In a message to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mr Assad congratulated Tehran on a deal he said would be a "major turning point in the history of Iran, the region and the world".

The Telegraph's David Blair has written that officials from the Middle East fear that Iran will use the lifting of economic sanctions to boost funding to Syria's Assad regime. So a nuclear agreement could have the unintended consequence of inflaming Syria's agony by placing large sums in the hands of Mr Assad's main ally.

12.43

Peter Foster, our US Editor in Washington writes:

Chris Coons, a Democrat senator from Delaware, has issued a statement on the Iran deal,

promising that he will review the detail

, but warning that "I will only support it if this deal prevents every Iranian pathway to develop a nuclear weapons capability."

Mr Obama can only afford 12 Democrat senators to rebel against the deal in order to avoid the over-ride of his promised presidential veto if Congress passes a motion disapproving of the agreement.

12.40

The office of Hassan Rouhani, Iran's president, has released these tweets from his statement on today's deal:

12.38

Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General, welcomed the "historic" agreement to curb Iran's nuclear programme, saying it could help bring peace to the Middle East.

Mr Ban praised the "determination and the commitment" of the negotiators who hammered out the deal, as well as the "courage of the leaders" who approved it.

"I hope - and indeed believe - that this agreement will lead to greater mutual understanding and cooperation on the many serious security challenges in the Middle East," Mr Ban said in a statement.

"As such, it could serve as a vital contribution to peace and stability both in the region and beyond."

12.33

Iran deal: what happens next in Washington? writes Peter Foster, US Editor.

12.30

An Iran deal is no substitute for a Middle East strategy, Mr President, writes Richard Spencer, Middle East Editor.

12.26

The White House has also uploaded a video of Mr Obama's statement on Iran:

12.23

Here is the full statement from EU high representative Federica Mogherini and Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif. Here is an extract:

We know that this agreement will be subject to intense scrutiny. But what we are announcing today is not only a deal but a good deal. And a good deal for all sides – and the wider international community.

This agreement opens new possibilities and a way forward to end a crisis that has lasted for more than 10 years. We are committed to make sure this Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is fully implemented, counting also on the contribution of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

We call on the world community to support the implementation of this historic effort.

12.22

Iranian state television broadcast Mr Obama's statement on a nuclear deal live, only the second such occasion since the Islamic revolution of 1979, reports AFP.

The state broadcaster had also aired Mr Obama's comments on an April 2 framework accord that led to today's agreement.

12.19

Iran's president Rouhani is also making a statement.

"God has accepted nation's prayers," he says.

12.15

Mr Obama says this deal offers an opportunity to move in a new direction. "We should seize it," he says.

He warns Congress that he will veto any attempt to block the deal.

12.11

"I strongly believe that our national security interest depends on Iran not obtaining a nuclear weapon," Mr Obama says. "Put simply, no deal means a greater chance of war in the Middle East."

12.09

Mr Obama says there will be "very clear consequences" if Iran does not stand by the deal.

12.06

Mr Obama says this deal is built "not on trust" but on "verification".

Inspectors will have access to Iran's facilities, centrifuge manufacturing and storage facilities, with some measures in place for 25 years.

"Put simply the organisation responsible for the inspections, the IAEA," will have access when necessary, he says.

12.03

President Obama is now speaking in Washington.

This deal demonstrates that US diplomacy can bring about real change, he says, adding that the US negotiated from a position of "strength and principle".

This deal meets "every single one" of the bottom lines the US established in the framework deal, Obama says.

11.59

Israel has received a copy of the final nuclear deal, officials in Jerusalem have confirmed to the Telegraph's Robert Tait.

Consultations are expected to take place between Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, and officials in the foreign and defence ministries later in the day, Haaretz reported on its website.

11.57

Philip Hammond, the Foreign Secretary, said the agreement would "give the international community the confidence it needs that Iran will not have the ability to go for a bomb".

The terms of the deal would keep Iran "above 12 months" away from producing enough weapons-grade uranium for one nuclear bomb for a period of 10 years.

This would be achieved by Iran exporting all but a residual amount of its total stockpile of low-enriched uranium and placing two thirds of its centrifuges in storage.

Mr Hammond added that inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would have "excellent access" to Iran's nuclear plants complete with "electronic monitoring and a "panoply of verification arrangements". The arms embargo on Iran will stay in place for "five years", he added.

Mr Hammond said the overriding aim of the agreement was to "create a new dynamic in the region."

11.56

Mr Zarif has now begun speaking. He thanks the press for keeping the diplomats company during the negotiations. He is repeating Ms Mogherini's statement in Persian.

11.50

The EU's Federica Mogherini has begun the press conference.

"Today is an historic day." She says it is a great honor "for us to announce that we have reached an agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue."

"No one thought it would be easy, historic decisions never are," she says. But despite all the twists and turns (and delays), "we have successfully resolved negotiations and resolved a dispute that has lasted ten years."

She says the deal involves Iran "under no circumstance" obtaining or building nuclear weapons.

The Telegraph's David Blair is reporting from Vienna:

11.47

Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, calls the deal a "firm choice for stability and cooperation".

"We are certain that today the world has breathed a huge sigh of relief," Mr Putin said in a statement issued by the Kremlin.

11.44

Peter Foster, our US Editor in Washington, writes:

America is just waking up to the news of an Iran Deal and the White House is bracing itself for a backlash from Republicans who have already vocally opposed this agreement, accusing the president of making foolhardy concessions to the Iranians.

Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate, has already said the deal will be a "hard sell" in Congress, and Mr Obama may well have to use his presidential veto to secure the deal.

Mr Obama's speech will therefore be the opening shots of a diplomatic offensive to sell the deal and avoid a full-scale rebellion in Congress and convince the American public that the fears being raised by the deal's critics are overblown.

Because the talks overran, the review-period for the deal in Congress has doubled from 30 to 60 days (to allow for the summer recess) which means that opponents will have longer to bend the ears of Congressmen and Senators when they are out in their districts and less easy for the White House to lobby.

Sources say that the White House is determined not to see a repeat of the 2013 Syria air-strikes vote when members of Congress turned against the administration after being deluged by calls from constituents telling them not to back strikes on the Assad regime following the use of chemical weapons.

11.28

Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, says the UN Security Council will endorse the deal in "a matter of days".

11.12

Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, has issued a statement saying he remains "deeply sceptical" about today's agreement on Iran's nuclear programme.

He says:

Iran has in the past failed over and over again to live up to its treaty obligations. It has maintained secret military sites. I fear we may have entered into an agreement that revives the Iranian economy but won’t stop this regime from developing nuclear arms in the long term, which would have disastrous consequences for the entire region and the world. As the famous proverb goes, ‘The road to hell is often paved with good intentions.'

11.08

Barack Obama, US president, will give a statement on Iran at 7am Eastern Time (12pm BST):

Hassan Rouhani, his Iranian counterpart, is also due to speak shortly.

11.07

Federica Mogherini, high representative of the EU for foreign affairs, tweets:

11.04

George Booth, oil and gas partner at Pinsent Masons, says the deal will "pave the way for a new era of Iranian natural resources":

Oil and gas developers will be relieved to learn a final agreement with Iran has been reached and preparation for re-entry can be stepped up a gear. The deal, which will end years of debilitating restrictions on trade, will pave the way for a new era of Iranian natural resources and will open the door to international developers queuing up to re-enter the potentially lucrative market.

Iran is ambitious about the contribution it can make to global hydrocarbons with some sources estimating one million barrels per day hitting the export market in just two months once sanctions are lifted. Even with a more conservative outlook, today’s news could be a game changer at a time when the global oil industry has been in a state of flux.

While this news brings reason to celebrate, developers are well advised to temper enthusiasm until the complex web of sanctions are fully unwound over the coming months. Snap-back provisions which essentially give the P5+1 the power to push the reset button should they regard Iran to be reneging on aspects of the final deal should be considered as they could leave developers exposed to sanctions suddenly leading to costly fines and severe penalties.

^{Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif}

11.00

Twenty months and multiple extensions: that's what it took for the P5+1 and Iran to finalise a landmark agreement on Iran's nuclear programme, writes Dina Esfandiary, a MacArthur Fellow at the Centre for Science and Security Studies in the Department of War Studies, King’s College London.

While we await the exact details, it seems like negotiators found creative solutions to some of the sticking points in the talks. A few notable examples: the arms embargo on Iran - the subject of much wrangling in the final days - will only be partially lifted to begin with.

Negotiators seem to have agreed to differentiate between defensive and offensive weapons, lifting the ban only on the former. As per the Framework agreement of April 2015, different parts of the deal will have different durations. Restrictions on Iran's enrichment programme will allegedly last 8 years.

What's particularly interesting is that Iran will be able to sell its enriched uranium as well as the product of the heavy water reactor at Arak on the international market, further encouraging it to significantly reduce its stockpiles. In addition, Iran agreed to voluntarily implement the Additional Protocol while it submits the text to its Majles (parliament) for ratification.

While these are only a few of the agreed details, the agreement is clearly a historic, "win-win" for both sides. It will also empower those in Tehran who are in favour of opening up to the West and reaching out to Iran's Arab neighbours. But the hardest still remains to be accomplished: beginning implementation and selling the deal back home for the US and Iran.

10.58

Hassan Rouhani, Iranian president, on Tuesday welcomed a historic nuclear deal that Iran and six major powers clinched after more than 20 months of negotiations.

"Iran Deal shows constructive engagement works. With this unnecessary crisis resolved, new horizons emerge with a focus on shared challenges," Mr Rouhani said on his Twitter feed.

10.33

Laurent Fabius, France's foreign minister, says a nuclear deal between major powers and Iran will be sufficiently solid for at least 10 years and that major powers will watch carefully how Iran uses money from the lifting of sanctions.

France's stance "of constructive firmness enabled a sufficiently robust agreement, at least for the period of the first 10 years,"

When asked whether he was concerned Iran could seek to destabilise the region using money it will receive from the lifting of sanctions he said:

"It will be one of the tests and we will be extremely vigilant."

Mr Fabius also said he did not think French firms would be penalised by Iran despite Paris' perceived tough stance in the nuclear talks, adding that he may travel to Tehran.

10.25

10.20

Having already denounced the emerging agreement as a "historic mistake", Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, elaborated on his objections in a meeting with the visiting Dutch foreign minister, Bert Koenders, writes Robert Tait.

"When you are willing to make an agreement at any cost, this is the result," he said.

"Far-reaching concessions have been made in all areas that were supposed to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons capability. In addition, Iran will receive hundreds of billions of dollars with which it can fuel its terror machine and its expansion and aggression throughout the Middle East and across the globe."

Answering domestic critics who charged that his leadership had failed to prevent the deal, Mr Netanyahu switched the blame to the six-power negotiating team while urging opposition politicians to unite for the sake of Israel..

"One cannot prevent an agreement when the negotiators are willing to make more and more concessions to those who, even during the talks, keep chanting: 'Death to America.'

"We knew very well that the desire to sign an agreement was stronger than anything, and therefore we did not commit to preventing an agreement.

"I say to all the leaders in Israel, it is time to put petty politics aside and unite behind this most fateful issue to the future and security of the State of Israel."

10.00

A short press conference in Vienna is underway, with EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif making initial statements

Ms Mogherini says: "What we have in front of us today ... is the result of very hard work. ... I'd like to thank all of us sitting around this table."

She adds: "It is a decision that can open the way to a new chapter in international relations. ... I think this is a sign of hope for the entire world."

Mr Zarif calls the deal a "win-win situation".

"We are reaching an agreement that is not perfect for anybody ... but now we are starting a new chapter of hope," he says.

Now the parties involved are heading into their final meeting, with a full press conference due afterwards.

09.59

IRNA, the official news agency in Iran, reports that "all of Iran's nuclear facilities will continue working" under the nuclear deal. That is not surprising given that it is consistent with what was agreed in Lausanne.

However, IRNA says that Iran will also "continue" the "research and development" of advanced centrifuges. If so, that would be a key concession by the Western powers.

09.55

While opposition to the Iran nuclear deal is near universal across the Israel political spectrum, opponents and critics of Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, are casting it as a personal failure for him, writes Robert Tait in Jerusalem:

Leading the chorus of criticism is Isaac Herzog, leader of the opposition Zionist Union, who said: “It’s inconceivable that we should reach this crucial moment with zero influence over the emerging agreement. That is the result of a personal and exclusive failure by Netanyahu, who chose [to prioritise] his political victory over our relationship with the United States and Israel’s security interest.”

Yair Lapid, leader of Yesh Atid and whom Mr Netanyahu sacked as finance minister last year, went further, calling on the prime minister to resign.

"Because of the way that he has managed the situation the door of the White House is closed to him, half of congress isn't willing to listen to him," Mr Lapid said. "We weren’t represented in Vienna, our intelligence relations were damaged and we’re all paying the price for his complete failure in preventing the deal.

"He wanted the credit and so he didn’t keep others updated, he didn’t involve the security cabinet or the government, and this failure is entirely his. He should resign because he knows better than anyone that while he is Prime Minister the United States won’t listen to us and the world won’t take our concerns seriously."

09.50

More from the Telegraph's Ahmed Vahdat on Iranian reaction to the deal:

The 'pro-Green' or liberal wing of Iran's society, which opposed the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president in streets protests so dramatically in 2009, are looking forward to broader changes in Iranian politics following a deal.

Saham News, a pro-Green news website, said: "The meaning of a nuclear agreement inside the country must equal the end of the Ahmadinejad era where billions of dollars of the nation’s wealth were plundered by his cronies among the civil and military officials through sanction-busting activities, the very sanctions that they had brought unto us by their fake revolutionary slogans."

That's a reference to the business activities of various Revolutionary Guard and other regime fronts, who were licensed to smuggle sanctioned goods and oil in and out of the country, and made their leaders rich in the process.

On the other hand, Saeed Jalili, a former Iranian nuclear negotiator under the Ahmadinejad government, said: "We may have reduced the number of our centrifuges but the enrichment of our Islamic and revolutionary ideology will continue to grow."

09.40

The office of Hassan Rouhani, Iran's president, has tweeted pictures of Iranian officials signing the "roadmap" with IAEA chief Yukiya Amano.

09.25

A "roadmap" has been signed between the United Nations' nuclear watchdog and Iran.

The UN International Atomic Energy Agency signed a roadmap with Iran on Tuesday with the aim of resolving all outstanding questions it has about the country's nuclear programme by the end of the year, the IAEA's director general said on Tuesday.

Future access to Iran's Parchin military site, which the agency had repeatedly sought, is part of a separate "arrangement", Yukiya Amano said.

"By 15 December 2015, the Director General will provide... the final assessment on the resolution of all past and present outstanding issues," he added.

09.20

In advance of the announcement, Iran's hardliners and military establishment have been cautious, some even hostile, reports Ahmed Vahdat for the Telegraph:

The commander of Iran’s Navy, Admiral Habib Sayari told Tasnim News, the voice of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard: “Whether this nuclear agreement will deliver or not we will be increasing our readiness in the coming weeks to face any threat from any foreign forces in the Persian Gulf."

That's a reference to Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies. They are currently bombarding pro-Iranian rebels in Yemen, one among several potential flashpoints.

Adml Sayari returned from a trip to the Russian city of St. Petersburg last week where he was introduced to the latest Russian naval hardware.

Iran's Defence Minister also said last week that the post-nuclear deal era would see "a new chapter in the Tehran-Moscow military alliance in the region.

If, as reported, arms exports to Iran will only remain embargoed for five years, expect to see a new race to refurbish its antiquated and home-grown arsenal.

09.19

Israel's Netanyahu: Iran nuclear deal is a bad mistake of historic proportions, reports Reuters.

09.05

The nuclear agreement is the product of one of the longest and most demanding rounds of diplomacy in modern time, writes David Blair. The essential facts are as follows:

• The agreement has come on day 18 of the Vienna talks.

• John Kerry, the US secretary of state, and Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, have held 23 bilateral meetings since June 27. They spent at least 22 hours together (although Iran and America still do not have bilateral relations).

• The Vienna talks amount to the longest continuous negotiation ever conducted by any US secretary of state since 1974.

In that year, Henry Kissinger spent 30 days negotiating disengagement agreements between Egypt, Israel and Syria after the Yom Kippur war of 1973. In the process, Kissinger shuttled constantly between Cairo, Jerusalem and Damascus.

• When it comes to a secretary of state staying in one place and negotiating continuously with the foreign minister of one country, the Vienna talks have no parallel since the Indochina conference in Geneva in 1954.

• During the Vienna talks, the US negotiating team consumed:

10 pounds of Twizzlers, 30 pounds of mixed nuts and 20 pounds of string cheese. On the rare occasions when they ate out, their favourite restaurant was Da Capo

• Mr Kerry stayed in the Imperial Hotel, where previous guests include Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini

• Mr Kerry broke his right leg in May. He was forced to move around Vienna on crutches, wearing black trainers instead of shoes.

• The talks over Iran's nuclear programme began in 2003, involving Britain, France and Germany.

• Mr Zarif spent more hours with Mr Kerry than any other foreign minister in the world in both 2014 and 2015

08.58

Israel's deputy foreign minister has accused Western powers of surrendering to Iran. Tzipi Hotovely said: "Israel will act with all means to try and stop the agreement being ratified."

08.42

The nuclear agreement with Iran that will be announced on Tuesday will be subjected to intense scrutiny, writes David Blair in Vienna.

Experts will be poring over the final text to discover how it managed to resolve the following key issues:

The arms embargo imposed on Iran by UN Resolutions 1747 and 1929

Iran wanted this to be lifted by any final deal. Tehran also wanted all restrictions on its ballistic missile programme - the largest in the Middle East - to be swept away. So has this happened, or will the embargo remain in place - and if so, for how long? One suggestion is that the embargo will stay but only for a period of five years.

The rights of inspectors to enter Iranian military facilities

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) believes that its experts should be able to enter any installation in order to verify Iran's nuclear activities. At present, they are only allowed to go inside Iran's declared nuclear plants. All military sites are off-limits - indeed Iran's parliament has passed a law that formally bans inspectors from entering military bases. How has this been settled? Will the inspectors be allowed "managed access" to non-nuclear plants, in line with the Additional Protocol safeguards agreement?

The "possible military dimensions" of Iran's nuclear programme

America and its allies believe that Iran's scientists researched 12 separate technologies relevant to the development of a nuclear warhead in the period before 2003. The IAEA has posed questions about each of these subjects which Iran has doggedly refused to answer. So will Iran come clean? Will this deal lay out a pathway for Iran to settle the IAEA's concerns about its past research into weapons-related technology?

The timing of sanctions relief

The core bargain of the nuclear deal has already been settled: Iran will curb its nuclear programme - particularly its enrichment of uranium - in return for the lifting of sanctions. But Iran always wanted the sanctions to go the moment a deal was signed. America and its allies, meanwhile, wanted the sanctions to be lifted only when the IAEA had verified Iran's compliance with its key nuclear commitments.

So how will the deal resolve this question? One possible face-saving formula is that the moment the agreement is "signed" will be defined as the moment when Iran keeps its side of the bargain - allowing sanctions to be lifted at the same time and everyone to be happy.

08.35

An Israeli Cabinet minister says a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers gives the Islamic Republic a "license to kill."

Miri Regev, a former military spokeswoman who serves as Israel's culture and sports minister, says that the deal was "bad for the free world (and) bad for humanity."

Israel has been at the forefront of efforts to block an accord that would lift sanctions on Iran.

08.27

Iranian diplomat talking to Reuters: "All the hard work has paid off and we sealed a deal. God bless our people."

08.20

Here is what Reuters is reporting has been agreed, sourcing unnamed diplomats:

• UN weapons embargo on Iran will remain in place for five years

• UN missile sanctions on Iran will not be lifted for eight years

• The deal allows for restoration of UN sanctions within 65 days in the event of Iranian non-compliance

08.19

A Western source with knowledge of the negotiations has confirmed to Reuters that Iran and six major world powers have clinched a nuclear deal granting Tehran sanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.

"Yes, there is agreement," said the source who declined to be identified.

An Iranian diplomat had said earlier there was a deal.

08.18

The foreign ministers of Iran and the six powers will meet at 0830 GMT (09.30 BST) at the United Nations centre in Vienna and a news conference will follow, a spokeswoman for the European Union says.

07.58

Any deal will go to the UN Security Council, which is expected to endorse it by the end of the month, to start the mechanics of implementation - long-term, verifiable limits on Iranian nuclear programmes that could be used to make weapons in exchange for an end to sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

07.50

A senior diplomat says a landmark Iran nuclear agreement was reached Tuesday morning after clearing final obstacles. The diplomat says it includes a compromise between Washington and Tehran that would allow UN inspectors to press for visits to Iranian military sites as part of their monitoring duties.

But access at will to any site would not necessarily be granted and even if so, could be delayed, a condition that critics of the deal are sure to seize on as possibly giving Tehran time to cover any sign of non-compliance with its commitments.

Under the deal, Tehran would have the right to challenge the UN request and an arbitration board composed of Iran and the six world powers that negotiated with it would have to decide on the issue.

^{Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif shouts from a balcony of the Palais Coburg Hotel where the Iran nuclear talks meetings are being held}

07.45

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Iran nuclear negotiations.

Over the past two weeks, Iran, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China have extended multiple deadlines for completing a long-term deal under which Tehran would curb nuclear activities for more than a decade in exchange for sanctions relief, as David Blair explains:

One by one, the deadlines have fallen by the wayside like skittles. First, the Iran nuclear agreement was supposed to be signed on June 30; when zero hour struck the negotiators decided they needed another week.

D-Day for the deal was set for July 7, but the diplomats and foreign ministers closeted in Vienna shied away from the fence at the last moment, giving themselves another 72 hours and promising an outcome by Friday.

Anyone who has followed these talks knows that deadline-jumping has become a habit; after all, the original target for a final agreement was supposed to be June 1, 2014. People with long memories might recall that these negotiations have been happening, in one guise or another, since 2003.