Obama Cites Americans’ Release As Win For ‘Smart’ Diplomacy

The US has imposed sanctions on 11 Iranian entities for their alleged role in Tehran’s recent ballistic missile test.

Still, said Ansari, “The U.S. sanctions against Iran’s ballistic missile program… have no legal or moral legitimacy”.

Kerry, in defending the agreement, said that “Iran’s recovery was fixed at a reasonable rate of interest and therefore Iran is unable to pursue a bigger tribunal award against us, preventing USA taxpayers from being obligated to a larger amount of money”.

According to USA media, their destination was the Ramstein air base in western Germany, where the freed men were expected to undergo medical exams.

The new targeted sanctions are in response to ballistic missile tests that the United States claims were in violation of a United Nations resolution.

In exchange for the release of the Americans, the US will either pardon or drop charges against seven Iranians – six of them dual citizens – accused or convicted of violating USA sanctions. “We know, peace is not going to come soon and easily, as the deal did not come soon and easily, but it came in the end”, said Mogherini.

They included The Washington Post’s Tehran correspondent Jason Rezaian, who had been detained in Iran for almost 18 months, Christian pastor Saeed Abedini and former US Marine Amir Hekmati.

Mr Rouhani pledged that the lifting of sanctions will give a major boost to Iran’s economy in 2016.

“We will be committed to the nuclear deal as far as the other side is”, Rouhani was quoted as saying by the state news agency, IRNA, at a meeting with IAEA chief Yukiya Amano. On Monday, Kerry said in an interview with CNN’s “New Day” that Iran’s foreign minister and other officials understood the terms of the agreement included the two and ensured it happened.

Under the nuclear deal, Iran had agreed to scale back its nuclear program, which western powers have long suspected of seeking to develop weapons.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s missile industry is completely indigenous and based on local knowledge and expertise… and imposing sanctions on individuals or companies has no impact on the development of the industry”, he noted.

“I decided that a strong, confident America could advance our national security by engaging directly with the Iranian government.” he said.

They include slashing by two-thirds its uranium centrifuges, reducing its stockpile of uranium – which before the deal, was enough for several bombs – and removing the core of its Arak reactor, which could have given Iran weapons-grade plutonium.

“The fact of being able to lift the sanctions, the fact of having Iran return to the worldwide scene, is a positive element in the region today”.

What does the deal mean for Iran’s nuclear program?