Tehran - Well-wishers hailed Iran's nuclear negotiators as they returned to Tehran Friday from reaching a potentially historic framework deal with world powers, but Israel warned it was a "very dangerous" step.
As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened security chiefs to prepare Israel's response, Iranians awaited the first reaction from supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran and six world powers agreed the outlines of the deal aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear drive on Thursday -- in a major breakthrough in the 12-year standoff between Iran and the West.
US President Barack Obama welcomed the "historic understanding" with the Islamic republic after decades of hostility, warning like other leaders that work remains to finalise a highly complex agreement by June 30.
But in Iran -- where crippling sanctions over its nuclear ambitions have left many suffering -- the mood was joyful.
Hundreds of Iranians took to the streets of Tehran in celebration after the agreement was announced, with drivers sounding their horns in approval along the capital's longest street, Val-e-Asr Avenue.
Arriving in Tehran from the negotiations in the Swiss city of Lausanne, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his team were welcomed by dozens of well-wishers.
"Viva Zarif! Viva Araghchi!" the crowd chanted, in reference to the minister and top negotiator Abbas Araghchi.
In brief remarks at the airport, Zarif praised Khamenei for "his remarkable support for the negotiating team and his guidance" in the talks, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Reaching out to Iranian hardliners who have opposed any deal that would curb Tehran's nuclear activities, Zarif said the agreement was not finalised.
"This set of solutions will be the basis for writing a final document," he said.
AFP
