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

Iran has successfully transferred some of its formerly frozen assets in order to ensure that financial sanctions have been fully lifted in accordance with a historic nuclear deal, the head of the central bank said Tuesday, Jan. 19. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday hailed the lifting of sanctions, saying this is a great success for Iran in the political and diplomatic arena.

Days after the landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers went into effect, the United States issued new sanctions tied to Iran’s ballistic missile program.

The lifting of sanctions allows Iran to rejoin the global economy and begin selling its massive oil reserves in worldwide markets, which could drive the price to as low as US$10 a barrel within months. Tehran has said it will carry on with the missile program despite the new U.S. sanctions.

They were triggered by Iran conducting a precision-guided ballistic missile test capable of delivering a nuclear warhead last October, violating a United Nations ban. Amin Saikal regional analyst at the Australian National University and author of the just-published book Iran at the Crossroads told VOA that Rouhani is keen to kick-start the economy and improve relations with the outside world.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry also said that the country would not negotiate with the US on other issues, while sanctions introduced by the Washington, which Iran called “propaganda measures”, would be met with a firm response.

Kerry, in defending the agreement, said that “Iran’s recovery was fixed at a reasonable rate of interest and therefore Iran is unable to pursue a bigger tribunal award against us, preventing United States taxpayers from being obligated to a larger amount of money”.

When Friday’s business hours ended, President Barack Obama was still being accused by Republicans of apologizing to Iran after two small US boats drifted into the country’s waters, leading to 10 sailors being held. But in the absence of a firmer USA policy, Iran’s attacks on Americans and vital US interests will surely continue. He added that this shows Iran owns a powerful weapon…that is diplomacy.

A statement from the State Department released over the weekend read: “We offered clemency to seven Iranians, six of whom are dual U.S.-Iranian citizens, who had been convicted or are pending trial in the United States”.