Iran’s President Calls Nuclear Deal ‘Golden Page’ in History

The deal, which took effect Saturday, required Iran to dismantle much of its nuclear capability. A fifth American was freed separately.

While hailing the curbs on the Iranian nuclear programme, Obama also struck a note of caution, stating that it does not mean that all differences with Iran had been resolved.

The implementation came hours after Iran freed four American prisoners, including Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, in exchange for seven Iranian prisoners.

Earlier in the day, the US Treasury Department sanctioned 11 entities and individuals, including six Iranians and one Chinese citizen, over their involvement in procurement on behalf of Iran’s ballistic missile program.

The resolution, adopted unanimously in July, endorsed the nuclear agreement but contains a “snap-back” mechanism that could see sanctions reapplied within the next 15 years if Tehran breaches the deal.

Iran has always denied wanting nuclear weapons, saying its activities are exclusively for peaceful purposes such as power generation.

President Hassan Rouhani told Parliament on Sunday that the deal was a “golden page” in Iranian history which has “opened new windows for engagement with the world”.

“We will… remain vigilant in verifying Iran’s compliance”, he said.

Israel’s opposition was evident in a statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday night.

But in a thinly-veiled attack on Israel, he said that all parties concerned were satisfied with the deal, “with the exception of Zionists and warmongers…American hardliners and extremists”.

The lifting of sanctions will unfreeze a huge amount of assets and allow Iranian oil to be sold internationally, and Tehran would also be able to get access to the global financial system after being isolated for years.

President Barack Obama speaks about the release of Americans by Iran, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, in the …

The so-called “Implementation Day” for the accord also followed news of a prisoner swap between Iran and the United States in another sign of thawing relations between the two foes since the July 14 agreement. The EU likewise ended all nuclear-related economic and financial sanctions against the country. “The region, USA and world will be more secure”.

As well as next year’s budget Rouhani submitted the Islamic republic’s sixth five-year development plan, based on policies set by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s ultimate authority.

Tehran resident Hossein Barati angrily asked, “If America restores the sanctions, can Iran restore its nuclear program?”

Looking forward, Wang says China will stick to its promise of maintaining world peace and stability, and keep its political willingness to promote the comprehensive implementation of the deal.