The United States announced on Sunday new sanctions relating to Iran’s ballistic missile program, a day after the Obama administration lifted sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program.
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Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari reportedly called the new US sanctions illegitimate, vowing to continue enhancing the country’s missile capabilities.
Hopes for a broader rapprochement between the two countries were dashed on Sunday when Washington slapped new sanctions on companies accused of supporting Iran’s ballistic missile program, drawing an angry response from Iranian officials.
Cooperation on the nuclear programme was moving forward however, with International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano in Tehran for talks with senior officials on Iran’s continued compliance with the deal.
“We’re not going to waver in the defense of our security or that of our allies and partners”, Obama said yesterday while announcing sanctions against 11 individuals and entities as a result of an Iranian ballistic missile launch in October. Tehran has said it will carry on with the missile program despite the new U.S. sanctions. Tehran also surprised many observers with the quick release of 10 US sailors detained last week after they inadvertently navigated into Iranian territorial waters in the Persian Gulf.
“Iran is the greatest state sponsor of terror in the world”, Pletka said.
“The IAEA should help other countries in developing peaceful nuclear technologies along with its missions to monitor and regulate nuclear activities; as a committed member of the IAEA, Iran expects to receive the Agency’s aid in improving and modernizing its nuclear industry”, Rouhani proposed.
The landmark deal between Iran and world powers – the US, UK, Russia, China, France and Germany – was agreed last July. Primary sanctions that bar USA citizens and companies from business with Iran will remain (See graphic).
Mr Rouhani pledged that the lifting of sanctions will give a major boost to Iran’s economy in 2016. White House officials said negotiations took place over a 14-month period, majority held in Switzerland, and they were driven by concerns that the Americans potentially faced many years in prison.
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While hailing the curbs on the Iranian nuclear programme, Obama also struck a note of caution, stating that it does not mean that all differences with Iran had been resolved.
