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US Secretary of State John Kerry chaired here on Friday the formal ceremony of raising the American flag in the recently reopened US embassy in Cuba, after 54 years of animosity between the two neighbours.

The symbolic moment served as a picture-perfect coda to 8 months of quick changes since the December 17 rapprochement announcement by US President Barack Obama and Cuban counterpart Raul Castro, which paved the way for the two countries to reopen their embassies on July 20.

The U.S. embassy in Havana has been reopened after over 54 years.

The US reopened its embassy in Cuba yesterday for the first time in 54 years in a step towards mending relations between the two countries.

Amid rising concerns about the proposed Iran nuclear deal, the Obama administration is struggling in its efforts to drum up support for it and demonizing those who dare oppose it.

“We will continue to urge the Cuban government to fulfil its obligations under UN and Inter-American human rights covenants – obligations shared by the United States and every other country in the Americas”, Kerry said.

The board expressed gratitude for the Obama administration’s focus on the Iranian nuclear threat, but went on to say that the Iran deal should be strengthened, war is not the only alternative to the deal (Obama has claimed it is) and Israel is being singled out.

Earlier on Friday, Secretary of State John Kerry travelled to Cuba to take part in the US embassy reopening ceremony that marked the normalization of relations between the two countries.

The Marines were interviewed earlier this week by The New York Times, and have recalled their experiences in the past. But dissidents were not invited to the flag-raising in deference to the Cuban government.

Thousands of people are expected to take part in dozens of marches in cities across the globe Saturday in support of Iran’s deal with world powers over its controversial nuclear programme.

Former President Jimmy Carter’s announcement that he has cancer has raised more questions than answers – including the type of cancer he has, his treatment options, and if it is life-threatening.

“Hence, no nuclear accord should provide Iran with an unearned “express pass” to global legitimacy”, the board said.

Cuban television has switched from cartoons to live coverage of the U.S. embassy flag-raising, broadcasting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s arrival at Havana’s Jose Marti airport followed by a detailed biography of Kerry’s career.

Lawmakers against it, most (but not all) of whom are Republicans, have threatened to sink the deal by passing a congressional resolution of disapproval, the Huffington Post writes. In return, sanctions against the country would be relieved.

Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush accused President Barack Obama on Thursday of not ensuring Iraq remained stable after his brother left a “fragile but secure” environment, returning to the topic of Iraq for the second time this week.