Obama touts improved Iranian ties: ‘This is a good day’

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Jabber-Ansari said Monday the USA sanctions – imposed hours after global sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear program were lifted – reflect “Iranophobia” and hostility. He did not elaborate.

“We still have sanctions on Iran for its violations of human rights, for its support of terrorism, and for its ballistic missile program”, President Obama said Sunday.

The BBC reports on Iran’s reactions to new sanctions against its ballistic missile programme and breaks down the sanctions that are now lifted as part of the nuclear deal.

US officials said the sanctions are being imposed as a result of Tehran’s firing of a medium-range ballistic missile, Fox News reported.

Obama’s move came after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) verified that Iran has implemented its commitments made in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and announced to remove international economic sanctions against the country. Moreover, the USA has only suspended its nuclear-related sanctions; it hasn’t terminated them. If Iran refuses, it faces the possibility of United Nations sanctions being reimposed.

Under the Washington-Tehran prisoner deal, five Americans were released from Tehran’s custody on Saturday.

At the same time, the US State Department announced it had agreed to release $400 million and $1.3 billion in interest for funds that had been frozen by the United State.

Iran’s economy suffered greatly under the sanctions which targeted its nuclear and financial systems.

The White House confirmed in a background call with reporters Sunday that Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post reporter detained then imprisoned by Iran, had been freed along with four other Americans held in that country. A more subtle affect will be that companies who deal with Iran will benefit hugely. He believes that “this proves the possibility of adopting strength, wisdom and patience”, and praised the role of Switzerland in the negotiations with Iran.