Iran on Monday (Jan 18) denounced “illegitimate” new sanctions by the United States on its ballistic missile programme, days after Teheran’s historic nuclear deal with world powers was confirmed.
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“Iran’s missile programme has never been created to be capable of carrying nuclear weapons”, Ansari was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.
President Barack Obama on Sunday heralded the implementation of a nuclear deal and prisoner swap with Iran as a victory for diplomacy that would advance US interests and potentially spark more cooperative relations between Tehran and the world.
Kerry also said that all of the US claims against Iran at the tribunal had always been settled, “resulting in payments of more than 2.5 billion dollars in awards to USA nationals and companies through that process”.
In a sign of those differences, Washington announced it had chose to target the Islamic republic’s ballistic missile programme with new measures.
The UN’s atomic watchdog said Amano would meet with President Hassan Rouhani and Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, to discuss monitoring and verifying Iran’s commitments under the agreement.
Three Americans have been released under the negotiated prisoner exchange with Iran.
A fifth American was released separately from the exchange.
While praising the deal for putting restraints on any Iranian nuclear ambition, Obama also seemed ready to accept the hand of friendship.
However, he added, there are still more Iranian claims pending and the USA will “continue efforts to address these claims appropriately”.
The men had been involved in exporting products and services to Iran in violation of trade sanctions against the country.
The U.N. Security Council also lifted sanctions against Bank Sepah and Bank Sepah International Sunday.
Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati and pastor Saeed Abedini were flown from Iran to Switzerland then brought to a U.S. military hospital in Germany, for medical treatment.
Under the exchange, Washington said it had granted clemency to seven Iranians, six of whom were dual US-Iranian citizens, and on Sunday, released them from jail, according to their lawyers.
“But today’s progress – Americans coming home, an Iran that has rolled back its nuclear program and accepted unprecedented monitoring of that program – these things are a reminder of what we can achieve when we lead with strength and with wisdom; with courage and resolve and patience”.
The lifting of sanctions and the prisoner deal considerably reduce the hostility between Tehran and Washington that has shaped the Middle East since Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979. On July 20, the corresponding resolution on Iran’s nuclear program agreement was adopted by the United Nations Security Council.
Iran has always denied wanting nuclear weapons, saying its activities are exclusively for peaceful use.
In addition, the USA was dropping drop Interpol “red notices” – essentially arrest warrants – on 14 Iranian fugitives it has sought, officials said. But this month’s milestone means that Iran will be able to sell its oil again on world markets and its banks will be able to connect to the global system.
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The nuclear agreement came into force on Saturday, allowing the United States and the European Union to end sanctions against Iran, including against oil exports.
