“If Americans take action in other areas other than nuclear, they will receive the appropriate response”, Hassan Rouhani said.
Advertisement
Obama talked about three major developments that diplomacy had achieved.
Just one day after “Implementation Day” of the Iran nuclear agreement, where worldwide sanctions were removed with the certification that Iran had met all of its obligations under the agreement, the United States has slipped back into its old habits.
Kerry praised the release, announced earlier in the day, of USA prisoners held in Iran.
A Swiss plane carrying American prisoners released by Iran has landed in Geneva, a USA official said on Sunday.
“Jason expressed hope that he can see us both in person tomorrow, and he looks forward to seeing everyone at The Post very soon”, the newspaper said, quoting Rezaian as saying: “I hear there’s going to be a big party”.
Foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari said Washington’s profitable sales of weaponry to the Middle East undermined the sanctions, which deny 11 companies and individuals access to the USA banking system.
On Saturday, Obama signed an executive order to lift sanctions on Iran after worldwide inspectors concluded that Iran has dismantled large parts of its nuclear programme as promised.
But Obama said “there remain profound differences between the USA and Iran”, including the country’s violations of human rights and its ballistic missile program.
European Union foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini said Monday she planned to visit Iran soon to capitalise on the momentum generated by the lifting of nuclear sanctions against Tehran.
“America can do – and has done – big things when we work together”, Obama said.
On January 16, the International Atomic Energy Agency announced that Iran had kept its nuclear promises under its July agreement with six world powers – triggering the end of nuclear-related sanctions.
Iran’s missiles are not designed in any way to carry nuclear warheads and therefore the country’s missile program does not contravene any global regulations, the statement went on to say.
Advertisement
He also said a settlement between the United States and Iran at The Hague, in which Iran received $400 million in funds frozen since 1981 plus $1.3 billion in interest, would save USA money.
