The U.N nuclear agency certified that Iran has met its obligations required under a deal struck last summer.
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“Each and every day, and especially today, our hearts are with the Levinson family and we will not rest until their family is whole again”, Mr. Obama said.
Obama said the US and its allies will be “steadfast” in confronting Iran over actions to destabilize the region, and its threats to Israel, which opposed the nuclear deal.
With the International Atomic Energy Agency certifying that Iran had complied with its agreement to scale back its nuclear programme, Mr Obama signed an executive order lifting nuclear-related sanctions.
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani yesterday called on Americans to invest in his country, saying “there aren’t any obstacles in front of them”.
In return, the USA will either pardon or drop charges against seven Iranians – six of whom are dual citizens – accused or convicted of violating US sanctions. A fifth American, student Matthew Trevithick, who was released separately, appears to have left Iran before the others.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, a senior administration official said the United States “did not want to complicate what was a very sensitive and delicate effort to bring Americans home” by imposing the sanctions. That includes Saeed Abedini, a pastor from Boise, Idaho whose jailing galvanized U.S. Christians, who was released after more than three years in an Iranian prison. “I reiterate the need to be vigilant about the deceit and treachery of arrogant countries, especially the United States, in this (nuclear) issue and other issues”, Khamenei said.
The Washington Post, editorial: “The announced implementation of the Iranian nuclear deal on Saturday came with an important bonus: Tehran’s release of four USA citizens it had imprisoned, including The Post’s Jason Rezaian”.
Iran will be able to immediately recoup about $100 billion in assets frozen overseas. The agreement puts Iran’s various nuclear activities under IAEA watch for up to 15 years, with an option to re-impose sanctions should Tehran break its commitments.
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The prisoner swap was announced on the same day that implementation began of the wide-ranging nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.
