The UN’s atomic watchdog late on Saturday confirmed that Iran had complied with its obligations under last summer’s accord and the United States and European Union announced they were lifting the sanctions that have for years crippled the country’s economy.
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In July, Iran and a group of six countries – China, France, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom and United States – reached the JCPOA, entrusting the IAEA with verifying and monitoring Iran’s commitments.
Iran agreed to free five Americans including Rezaian and Saeed Abedini, an Iranian-American Christian pastor sentenced to eight years in prison in 2013 on charges of undermining Iran’s national security.
“Even as we implement the nuclear deal and welcome our Americans home, we recognize that there remain profound differences between the United States and Iran”.
As part of the deal, Iran had to drastically reduce its number of centrifuges and dismantle a heavy-water reactor near the town of Arak, both of which could be used in creating nuclear weapons.
President Barack Obama is crediting his “smart” diplomacy for recent breakthroughs in the US relationship with Iran.
The sanctions levied on Tehran over its nuclear activities had cut off Iran from the global financial system, significantly reduced the exports of a major oil producer, and imposed economic hardship on ordinary Iranians.
Iran says it has the right to nuclear energy – and stresses that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.
He also announced that Tehran had released several American prisoners, who were detained – some for years – in Iranian prisons, including Washington Post reporter and ex-Tehran bureau chief Jason Rezaian. “Iran’s nuclear program has been substantially rolled back”, he said. The U.S. also believes there was a November missile test. On Sunday, he repeated his contention that the deal will strengthen and embolden Tehran, leading to greater regional instability.
In an address to Iran’s parliament Sunday morning, Rouhani said that all the parties involved were satisfied with the deal, “with the exception of Zionists and warmongers…”
“This is a good day”, Obama said from the White House. Everyone is happy with the agreement except those who provoke division among Muslims and radicals in the US.
Later, Kerry also held a press conference in Vienna in which he said the landmark event marked the first day of a safer world.
Netanyahu, who vigorously opposed the Obama administration-backed nuclear deal, decried the weekend’s developments and vowed Israel will not allow Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons.
Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se sent a congratulatory letter to his Iranian counterpart over the lifting of sanctions, according to the ministry.
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“We also know without a doubt that there is not a challenge in the entire region that couldn’t become much more complicated, much worse, if Iran had a nuclear weapon”.
