Iran’s Khamenei welcomes sanctions lift, warns of United States ‘deceit’

The announcement came a day after the USA agreed to lift sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program under an worldwide deal reached in July, and hours after confirmation that several Americans held captive in Iran had been released.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury had been planning to announce the penalties in late December, but held off after Iran’s foreign minister said they could have derailed the prisoner exchange that took place this weekend, U.S. officials said.

In a statement after the release of Rezaian, Washington Post Publisher Frederick Ryan said: “We are relieved that this 545-day nightmare for Jason and his family is finally over”.

Tehran decried new USA sanctions on Monday, just days after the confirmation of its historical nuclear deal with world powers.

Also on Sunday, the U.S. announced that Iran will receive $1.7 billion in debt and interest as Obama pledged that it was time to solve the financial disputes between the two countries.

Iran’s controversial heavy water production facility is seen in this general view at Arak, south of the Iranian capital Tehran, Oct. 27, 2004.

A video of the USA sailors on their knees with their hands on their heads threatened to undercut the Obama administration’s claim that their quick release demonstrated improved relations between Washington and Tehran.

The United Arab Emirates-based Mabrooka Trading, and its owner Hossein Pournaghshband, were placed on the USA blacklist for helping Iran produce carbon fiber for the missile program.

For a decade the sanctions, imposed in condemnation of Iran’s disputed nuclear programme, had crippled the country’s economy.

Describing the accord a unique example in the history of diplomacy, Rouhani said Iran was committed not to pursue nuclear weapons.

The president pointed out that a priority will be given to countries that continued to trade with Iran despite the economic sanctions.

Iran has denounced new U.S. sanctions placed on its missile program, but opted to push ahead with global cooperation after its historic nuclear deal.

“During the 10-12 years that they created the fabricated case, we lost the opportunities for technical cooperation with the IAEA”, Salehi said, speaking in a joint press conference with Amano.