“We remain steadfast in opposing Iran’s destabilizing behavior elsewhere, including its threats against Israel and our Gulf partners, and its support for violent proxies in places like Syria and Yemen”, he said.
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About the recent release of five US prisoners, who were according to him “unjustly detained by Iran”, the president noted that he had promised their families to bring them home.
“They are 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”.
In a speech delivered from the White House, President Barack Obama hailed the beginning of the implementation of the historic Iran Nuclear Deal. But, as Moon of Alabama blog points out, the United Nations certification on Saturday means that Iran does not have nor will it pursue a nuclear weapon. Tehran has said it will carry on with the missile program despite the new United States sanctions.
A day before the American administration was scheduled to impose sanctions, the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned his USA counterpart John Kerry that this step could hamper a prisoner exchange agreement which was negotiated by the two sides secretly for months.
The announcement came as Iran and world powers led by the United States were expected to finally implement last July’s nuclear deal, which will lift global sanctions imposed on the Islamic republic.
Rezaian had spent 445 days in captivity in Iran, the longest time an American has been held captive in the country, even longer than the American hostages in the 1979-80 Iran hostage crisis.
The president said last year’s nuclear agreement “was never meant to resolve all of our differences with Iran”. The new sanctions prevent 11 entities and individuals linked to the missile program from using the USA banking system.
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The freeing of the Americans and the certification of the nuclear deal, both Saturday, marks the beginning of a new era in U.S.-Iranian relations. “Full cooperation from Iran is also needed”, he said. In addition, the US will drop Interpol “red notic es” – essentially arrest warrants – on 14 Iranian fugitives it has sought, officials said.
