Iran: New US Sanctions Over Missile Tests ‘Illegitimate’

Ansari referred to the new penalties as illegitimate, saying his country “responds with determination to such propaganda by accelerating its legal ballistic missile program and boosting defense capabilities”.

However, the U.S. imposed the fresh sanctions due to concerns that ballistic missiles recently tested by Iran could carry atomic warheads, a claim Ansari said was baseless on Monday.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would continue to closely monitor Iran’s compliance, development of ballistic missiles and its involvement in terrorism.

On Saturday the USA and European Union lifted sanctions against Iran after a report by the global nuclear watchdog said the country had complied with all of the nuclear agreement’s requirements, including the dismantling of the reactor at its Arak nuclear facility.

On Sunday, President Barack Obama said that “strong American diplomacy” led to the end of sanctions and the release of American prisoners held by Iran.

The cabinet said that in keeping with its decision on the 11th of November it had conducted “a total revision of the ordinance” of measures that Switzerland had imposed on Iran as part of the worldwide community’s pressure to curb Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) test-fired its first guided ballistic missile dubbed Emad in October. “We are going to remain vigilant about it”. They were Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari – who was let out but chose to stay in Iran – and Matthew Trevithick, a freelance American reporter and researcher who had worked in Afghanistan, Mali and Syria before studying in Tehran.

This is a clean bill of health certifying that all nuclear activities in Iran are being used for peaceful purposes, and Amano said last year that this could take “years and years”. United Nations sanctions on the sale of defence and nuclear technology as well as asset freezes were also lifted.

A statement from the Swiss cabinet welcomed the implementation of the nuclear deal and congratulated the six world powers and Iran for their success in making it happen.

Obama campaigned for the White House in 2008 on a promise to engage with USA enemies including Iran and Cuba.

“We have to absorb them and for sure guarantee that this becomes a step towards cooperation in the region”.

Four of the American prisoners, including Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, were freed in exchange for Washington pardoning seven Iranians accused of sanctions-busting. As part of this resolution, the USA will send back $400 million to Iran, plus $1.3 billion in interest, according to ABC News.