Within hours of the release of the Americans, the US imposed sanctions against those involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program as a result of Tehran’s firing of a medium-range ballistic missile.
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Obama said he was hopeful the events signaled an opportunity for Iran to work more cooperatively with the rest of the world.
Shortly after the IAEA ruling was issued, the United States suspended, but did not terminate, banking, shipping, steel and other sanctions, while the European Union fully lifted restrictions on trade, shipping and insurance.
Concerns that fresh Iranian exports will worsen a supply glut have helped push oil prices to 12-year lows, and they plunged below US$28 a barrel early on Monday.
“Iran’s missile program has never been created to be capable of carrying nuclear weapons”, Mr Ansari was quoted as saying by local media.
“We will continue to enforce these sanctions vigorously”, Obama said.
The newest US sanctions imposed on Iranian companies and individuals connected to the country’s ballistic missile program are illegitimate, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Monday.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says recent remarks by United States leaders after official implementation of a nuclear accord and lifting of sanctions on Iran are “totally a cause for suspicion.” .
Moments later, President Obama hailed the nuclear deal, which is being implemented following verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Iran had restricted its sensitive nuclear activities.
USA official and congressional sources said President Barack Obama’s administration had held back from taking action for more than two weeks during the tense negotiations that ultimately freed five Americans under a prisoner swap. The release of the four Americans, including a Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, was part of a prisoner swap between Iran and the US.
“We’ve achieved this through diplomacy without resorting to another war in the Middle East”, Obama said.
He also wrote in his letter that Iranian officials should take care that the counter party completely fulfils its obligations.
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Rouhani, who has promised that 2016 will be a “year of prosperity” for Iranians, said that following the lifting of sanctions Iran would seek foreign investment of $30-$50 billion annually, to dramatically spur growth to eight percent.
