United States and European Union have lifted economic sanctions imposed against Iran over its nuclear programme following the implementation of the July last year atomic deal by Tehran.
The International Atomic Energy Agency yesterday ruled that Iran has curbed its nuclear programme as promised during the deal with Britain, United States, Russia, China, France and Germany.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said that Washington has implemented its side of the Iran nuclear deal and lifted a raft of sanctions imposed on Tehran, which was imposed to rein in its weapons program.
European Union Foreign Policy chief Federica Mogherini in Vienna also said that multinational and national nuclear-related sanctions on Iran are lifted following Tehran’s compliance of the agreement.
Mogherini said in Vienna in a joint statement with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that this achievement clearly demonstrates that with political will, perseverance, and through multilateral diplomacy, they can solve the most difficult issues.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani congratulated the Iranian nation after implementation of the nuclear deal. He said it was a glorious victory for the patient of Iran.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that years of patient and persistent diplomacy have borne fruit.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it was a significant milestone that reflects the good faith effort by all parties to fulfill their agreed commitments.
Meanwhile, Iran and the US have announced a prisoner swap deal in an apparent gesture of goodwill ahead of lifting sanctions against Iran. Iranian authorities have freed four Iranian-American nationals including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian.
According to Reports, the other three Iranian-Americans are Saeed Abedini, Amir Hekmati and Nosratollah Khosravi. In exchange Washington also announced that it had granted clemency to seven Iranians and dropped charges against 14 more.
In a related development, US Treasury Department said it would allow non-Americans to do business with Iran in a wide range of sectors.
Non-Americans are now allowed to trade with major Iranian government entities and sell goods and services including automobiles, steel, coal, gold and insurance.
The deal has also put Iran and the United States on the road to better relations some 35 years after the Islamic revolution that toppled the US-backed shah.