“Ballistic Missile Sanctions” Spoil Iran’s Joy at “Nuclear” Settlement

A spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Hossein Jaber Ansari, said “Iran’s missile program has never been created to be capable of carrying nuclear weapons”, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.

He added that Tehran saw fresh economic sanctions as “illegitimate”.

Iran emerged from years of economic isolation on Saturday when world powers lifted crippling sanctions after confirming that Tehran had curbed its nuclear programme as part of a deal agreed last year.

Tensions have persisted, however, with the US Treasury on Sunday announcing new sanctions on individuals and companies in connection with Iran’s ballistic missile programme. He said the country will react to the “propagandist and harassing measures by following up on its legal missile program in earnest and further improve the country’s defense capabilities and national security”.

What does the deal mean for Iran’s nuclear program? “Yesterday marked a milestone in preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon”. Nicholas Burns, a former American diplomat and a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School, explains what the prisoner swap and sanctions mean for the U.S.-Iranian relationship going forward.

“We have a rare chance to pursue a new path, a different, better future that delivers progress for both our peoples and the wider world”, said Obama. Various U.S. sanctions against Tehran remain in place, and Iran remains on the State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism. Officials at the American administration denied that sanctions imposed on Iran because of ballistic missiles were delayed for political reasons. United Nations sanctions on the sale of defence and nuclear technology as well as asset freezes were also lifted.

“When Americans are freed and returned to their families, that’s something we can all celebrate”, Obama said.

Kerry also said Sunday that the USA and Iran had settled a dispute over $400 million in Iranian money dating back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution and end of diplomatic ties.