Iranians cheer nuclear negotiators at airport

TEHRAN - The Associated Press

A picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency shows supporters of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (portrait) flashing the sign for victory as the foreign minister arrived at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport after talks in Geneva in which world powers reached an agreement with Iran over its nuclear programme on Nov. 24. AFP photo / ISNA

Hundreds of cheering supporters greeted Iran's nuclear negotiators as they arrived back to Tehran late Nov. 24 night.

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

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 hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

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

Tehran agreed Nov. 24 to a six-month pause of its nuclear program while diplomats continue talks. International observers are set to monitor Iran's nuclear sites as the West eases about $7 billion of the economic sanctions crippling the Islamic Republic.

Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif told state television at the airport that the country was prepared for quick follow-up negotiations to keep the deal on track.

"We are ready to begin the final stage of nuclear agreement from tomorrow," Zarif said.

There has been no noticeable opposition to the deal in Tehran, though a few opposition lawmakers on Nov. 24 sought more clarification about the deal.

Both Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, and moderate President Hassan Rouhani supported the deal.