Hooray… Iran’s Nuclear Sanctions Lifted

Sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear program are lifted following confirmation of Tehran’s commitment to​ the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action by the International Atomic Energy Agency. 

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made the announcement during a joint press conference in Vienna on Saturday, January 16 2016.

Mogherini read out a statement in English which was subsequently read out by Zarif in Persian.

“As Iran has fulfilled its commitments, today, multilateral and national economic and financial sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program are lifted in accordance,” read the statement. “All sides remain firmly convinced that this historic deal is both strong and fair, and that it meets the requirements of all.”

“This achievement clearly demonstrates that with political will, perseverance, and through multilateral diplomacy, we can solve the most difficult issues and find practical solutions that are effectively implemented,” it added.

“UN sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear programme are lifted. United Nations Security Council resolution 2231 (2015), which endorsed the JCPOA, will from now onwards, together with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), be the sole international legal framework related to Iran’s nuclear activities, terminating provisions of resolutions 1696 (2006), 1737 (2007), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008), 1835 (2008), 1929 (2010) and 2224 (2015).”

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani responded to the announcement by hailing the Iranian nation in a tweet for the “glorious victory.”

Iranian Ambassador to the IAEA Reza Najafi announced that Amano would be traveling to Iran to meet Rouhani, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi, and other officials on Sunday, January 17 2016.

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said that Iran gained its “right” through support from the Iranian nation and Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Many world leaders and politicians respond to the implementation of Iran’s historic nuclear deal with world powers.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, also present in Vienna, confirmed the IAEA’s report, saying that “The US sanctions-related commitments… are now in effect.”

Kerry said the United States would “immediately” remove sanctions imposed on Tehran, “expanding the horizon of opportunity for the Iranian people.”

“Today marks the moment that the Iran nuclear agreement transitions from an ambitious set of promises on paper to measurable action in progress,” said US Secretary of State John Kerry after the announcement.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also hailed the agreement implementation.

“This achievement demonstrates that international proliferation concerns are best addressed through dialogue and patient diplomacy,” said Ban’s spokesman in a statement. “This is a significant milestone that reflects the good faith effort by all parties to fulfill their agreed commitments,” he added.

In a statement released by the IAEA, the agency’s Director General Yukiyo Amano said that “Relations between Iran and the IAEA now enter a new phase. It is an important day for the international community. I congratulate all those who helped make it a reality.”

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond released a statement saying that “Years of patient and persistent diplomacy, and difficult technical work, have borne fruit as we now implement the deal.”

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius also welcomed the deal, calling it an “important step for peace and security implementation.”

“At a time when the region is seeing immense challenges and strong tensions, I hope that the spirit of cooperation that marked the conclusion of the deal can also be brought to all the other regional issues,” he said.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also hailed the announcement as a “historic success for diplomacy.”

He added that the diplomatic victory could lead to success “in defusing other urgent crises and conflicts in the region, especially regarding the civil war in Syria,”

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama signed an executive order for the removal of sanctions on Iran, the White House announced.

Leading US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton praised Obama for implementing the nuclear agreement, yet claiming that concerns still remain.

“Iran is still violating UN Security Council resolutions with its ballistic missile program, which should be met with new sanctions designations and firm resolve,” Clinton said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also repeated Tel Aviv’s anti-Iran rhetoric, saying, “Even after signing the nuclear deal, Iran has not relinquished its ambition to obtain nuclear weapons.”

Netanyahu added that Israel would “follow the implementation of the deal and warn of any violation.”

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/