Atomic agency chief: Iran has met nuclear deal obligations

Not long before, his administration announced new sanctions against Iran – this time on 11 people and entities involved in the country’s ballistic missile program.

Diplomatic triumph or travesty, America’s relationship with one of its most intractable foes took two giant leaps forward over the weekend when Iran released four Americans in a prisoner swap after locking in last summer’s nuclear deal and receiving $100 billion in sanctions relief.

The deal also allows the U.S.to import Iranian carpets, caviar and pistachios.

Previously, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the US would pay Iran $400 million and also $1.3 billion in interest, dating back to the Islamic Revolution.

He went on to say all of the United States claims against Iran at the tribunal had always been settled and had netted American companies and individuals $2.5 billion. Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, former Marine Amir Hekmati, pastor Saeed Abedini and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari were released from Iranian custody in exchange for seven Iranians who were not convicted of violent crimes but of violating the sanctions ban against Iran. It was on the edge of finally escaping global economic sanctions.

The freeing of the Americans and the certification of the nuclear deal, both Saturday, marks the beginning of a new era in U.S.-Iranian relations.

A fifth American, student Matthew Trevithick was released independently of the larger swap, and already had headed home.

In exchange for the American prisoners’ freedom, the United States pardoned or commuted the sentences of an Iranian and six dual citizens of the United States and Iran in what Obama called a “one-time gesture”.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s missile industry is completely indigenous and based on local knowledge and expertise… and imposing sanctions on individuals or companies has no impact on the development of the industry”, he noted.

Remember that Iran didn’t come clean on its past nuclear work, as it was supposed to do under the deal.

In Tehran, ordinary Iranians were cautious about what the future holds after the lifting of sanctions. However, neighboring countries’ leaders are wary of Iran’s new freedom.

“We’re not going to waver in the defense of our security or that of our allies and partners”, Obama said.

Iran’s Gulf Arab adversaries were silent on news of the nuclear deal’s implementation, in what is perhaps a sign of unease at the rapprochement. On Sunday he repeated his contention that the deal will strengthen and embolden Tehran, leading to greater regional instability.

Talking to the people of Iran, Obama said, “For decades your government’s threats and actions to destabilise the region has isolated Iran from much of the world”.

Iranian President Hasan Rouhani has presented parliament with a draft budget that would reduce the government’s reliance on oil revenues.

The UN’s atomic watchdog said Amano would meet with President Hassan Rouhani and Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, to discuss monitoring and verifying Iran’s commitments under the agreement. “If sanctions are removed with no problems, Rouhani will benefit as he will be seen as a good politician who kept his promise”, said Foad Izadi, a politics professor at Tehran University.

The Vienna agreement was nailed down after two years of negotiations following Rouhani’s election.