New Iran budget sees less reliance on oil revenues

The decision was made after the IAEA declared that Tehran has fulfilled its obligations under its landmark nuclear deal with six world powers in July 2015.

Rohani told parliament on January 17 that the deal was also a “turning point” point for Iran’s economy, adding that the energy-rich country needed to be less reliant on oil revenues.

“Israel will continue following and demand from the global community not to ignore Iranian violations, in order to ensure that they won’t be surprised like in the case of North Korea”.

The IAEA – the U.N. nuclear watchdog organization – released its report assessing Iran’s compliance with an agreement with foreign powers, including the United States and the European Union.

“Israel’s policy is exactly as it has been – not to allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons”.

Meanwhile, the United States is copping criticism from another Kiwi academic for trying to deny Iran’s prisoner release is not connected with the lifting of sanctions against the country.

Tehran confirmed that four inmates with dual Iranian-US nationality have been released from its jails, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian.

Rouhani said on his Twitter account: “I thank God for this blessing & bow to the greatness of the patient nation of Iran”.

Nobody was beaten in the nuclear deal, neither inside the country, nor among the countries that negotiated with us.

In addition to ending the sanctions, Iran would have access to billions of dollars of assets in foreign banks that have been frozen for years.

However, critics of the deal, which include many Republican lawmakers in the USA, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, argue that it is not enough to prevent Iran from enriching its nuclear weapons facilities.

It is a defining initiative for both President Barack Obama and Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, both of whom faced strong opposition from hardliners at home in countries that have called each other “Great Satan” and part of the “axis of evil”.

“Years of patient and persistent diplomacy, and hard technical work, have borne fruit as we now implement the deal” – British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.

While there are no plans to establish formal diplomatic relations with Islamic Republic, the nuclear negotiations have established a useful direct line of communication, deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said Friday.

During his statement, the president also announced the resolution of a decades-long financial dispute that will result in the USA sending back $400 million to Iran, plus $1.3 billion in interest.