(VOVworld) - Iran expects a deal it reached with world powers in July, under which sanctions will be lifted in return for it scaling down its nuclear program, to be implemented by the start of next year.

Iran's top nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi leaves a hotel after meeting senior officials from the United States, Russia, China, Britain, Germany and France in Vienna, Austria, October 19, 2015. (Photo: Reuters)

Iran’s nuclear negotiator, Abbas Araqchi, was speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Vienna after meeting with leaders from the International Atomic Energy Agency. The IAEA reported that so far Iran has disconnected around 4,500 uranium-enriching centrifuges. Tehran is also required to disconnect another 10,000 as it committed to in the agreement. The IAEA is expected to release the final report on its inspection of Iran’s nuclear program next week, prior to the meeting of the IAEA’s Board of Governors on December 15.