State television reports that Iran has removed the core of its Arak nuclear reactor as part of Tehran's obligations under its nuclear deal with world powers.
A spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Behrouz Kamalvandi, said on January 14 that international inspectors will now verify the move, before sending their report to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Under the nuclear agreement reached in July, Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqhchi said on January 13 that the IAEA was expected to give the go-ahead for the deal on January 15 and that an announcement about implementation would be made by January 17.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said relief from Western economic sanctions is "likely within the coming days" after Iran decommissions its Arak nuclear reactor.
