Iran says new US sanctions illegitimate

Iran detained Rezaian in 2014, eventually charging him with espionage and other crimes, according to The Washington Post.

US President Barack Obama hailed the full implementation of an global nuclear accord with Tehran and the release of Americans held prisoner in Iran as a vindication of “strong American diplomacy”. A fifth American, Matthew Trevithick, a researcher imprisoned for 40 days, was released separately of the swap; his name was also not previously reported.

Iran has denounced new U.S. sanctions placed on its missile program, but opted to push ahead with worldwide cooperation after its historic nuclear deal.

A plane carrying the three Americans who’d wished to leave Iran after the prisoner swap was completed arrived on a U.S. Air Force base in Germany after a brief stop in Switzerland.

The journalist’s release occurred just hours after a controversial nuclear deal between the United States and Iran went into effect.

Also on Sunday, the U.S. announced that Iran will receive $1.7 billion in debt and interest as Obama pledged that it was time to solve the financial disputes between the two countries.

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

“It reflects a pattern we’ve seen in the Obama administration over and over again of negotiating with terrorists and making deals and trades that endanger USA safety and security”, Sen.

A day after President Obama signed executive actions to lift economic sanctions against Iran, the impact of that deal was reverberating through the local Iranian American community – the largest Iranian diaspora community in the world.

He also said that Iran-Venezuela ties should be further developed in all fields in the post-sanctions era.

The U.N nuclear agency certified that Iran has met its obligations required under a deal struck last summer.

“There were many sceptics who said Iran would never deliver on its side of the bargain, but the independent International Atomic Energy Agency has said they have”. But, as Moon of Alabama blog points out, the United Nations certification on Saturday means that Iran does not have nor will it pursue a nuclear weapon. Namazi advocated better relations between the USA and Iran.

Iran has always denied wanting nuclear weapons, saying its activities are exclusively for peaceful purposes including power generation and medical research.