The EU has lifted all sanctions which had targeted, amongst others, Iran’s oil, gas, shipping, petrochemicals, insurance and financial sectors.
Advertisement
During a January 19 speech at a commemoration for the implementation of the nuclear deal, Rouhani said that Iran is the only country to have Chapter 7 sanctions removed without being invaded and the government toppled. The United States imposed a fresh set of sanctions that restricts certain Iranians and firms in response to ballistic missile testing.
Those were Islamic State, also known as ISIS or Daesh, al Qaeda and the Nusra Front, he said, adding that 10 “card-carrying members” of al Qaeda had attended an opposition meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, convened to form a delegation for the Geneva talks. “And we are going to remain vigilant about it”.
“Relations between the IAEA and Iran are now entering a new phase”. The treatment of our Navy sailors earlier this week was offensive including the release of a demeaning and provocative video’.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz from Texas and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio say they would rip up the nuclear deal and start over, on the thinking that the United States would be able to persuade European allies to reimpose economic sanctions.
“The Islamic Republic will respond to these aggravating and propagandistic measures by pursuing its legal missile program stronger than before and developing its defensive capabilities”, a foreign ministry statement said. Rezaian, Hekmati and Abedini are now undergoing physical and psychological evaluations at the USA military’s Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.
The announcement came a day after the USA agreed to lift sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program under an worldwide deal reached in July, and hours after confirmation that five Americans held captive in Iran had been released.
The Obama administration has touted the Iran deal as its crowning foreign policy achievement.
Despite lingering tensions between Iran and the United States, he said, “the United States can take steps to overcome this mistrust”, such as through implementation of the nuclear agreement.
In October, Iran tested a new precision-guided ballistic missile. He did not suggest how he would have secured the release of the prisoners, just as Republican critics of the Iran nuclear deal never suggested what they would have negotiated differently.
Describing the accord a unique example in the history of diplomacy, Rouhani said Iran was committed not to pursue nuclear weapons.
HARI SREENIVASAN: Now the focus turns back to the nuclear deal and inspections to ensure Iran’s compliance.
Advertisement
A fifth American, Matthew Trevithick, was also released by Iran, though his release was not part of the negotiated prisoner swap.
