The Iranian side welcomed the US decision about releasing these funds. “Today we are in an atmosphere where we can have political, economic and legal interaction with the world to the benefit of our national interests”, the president said.
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“As a result, the United States is imposing sanctions on individuals and companies working to advance Iran’s ballistic missile programme”.
Speaking at his weekly Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said, “The Israel policy remains as it was – not to allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon”.
On Saturday the US and European Union lifted sanctions against Iran after a report by the worldwide nuclear watchdog said the country had complied with all of the nuclear agreement’s requirements, including the dismantling of the reactor at its Arak nuclear facility.
On Saturday, Obama signed an executive order to lift sanctions on Iran after global inspectors concluded that Iran has dismantled large parts of its nuclear programme as promised.
Obama said Iran has a vibrant culture that has so much to contribute to the world in commerce, science and the arts, but “your government’s threats and actions to destabilise your region have isolated Iran from much of the world”.
Even as Americans released from captivity in Iran were joyfully reunited with family members on Monday, debate continued over the wisdom of the prisoner exchange that freed them.
“I reiterate the need to be vigilant about the deceit and treachery of arrogant countries, especially the United States, in this (nuclear) issue and other issues”, Khamenei said.
“They’re civilians, and their release is a one-time gesture to Iran given the unique opportunity offered by this moment and the larger circumstances at play”, Obama said. Among the those returning to the USA were Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who had been charged with espionage and three other serious crimes, including “collaborating with hostile governments” and “propaganda against the establishment”. The U.S. will also drop Interpol “red notices” – essentially arrest warrants – on a handful of Iranian fugitives it has sought. The US said it also offered clemency to seven Iranians who were held for sanctions violations.
The Vienna agreement was nailed down after two years of rollercoaster negotiations following Rouhani’s election.
Rouhani, a moderate whose 2013 election victory helped launch the huge diplomatic effort toward the deal, has promised that the lifting of sanctions will give a major boost to Iran’s economy. It said Iran must be held to the commitments it agreed to under the nuclear accord and that its support for militant groups and arming of regional proxies must be confronted.
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The leader of another Jewish-American organisation that had not taken a position on the nuclear agreement in the months leading to its implementation, invoked a biblical saying from the book of Psalms to “seek peace and pursue it”.
