EU extends Iran sanctions freeze by extra two weeks

The EU on Thursday extended a freeze on sanctions against Iran for another two weeks, clearing the way for their complete end once the UN certifies Tehran is complying with the terms of a historic nuclear deal. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is expected to announce shortly, possibly as early as Friday, that Iran can no longer acquire nuclear weapons as agreed with world powers in July. "The (European) Council extended until 28 January 2016 the suspension of certain EU restrictive measures against Iran specified in the Joint Plan of Action of November 2013," the EU's foreign affairs service said in a statement.