Iran protests against imposition of new sanctions

In a statement released on 18 January, Iran has protested against the US’s decision to impose new sanctions related to the country’s ballistic missile programme. The move came after US President Barack Obama on 16 January signed into law the decision to lift nuclear-related sanctions against Iran. Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani declared it to be a ‘historic day’ for his country. Today however, the tone was far less positive and conciliatory, with Iran’s foreign ministry issuing a statement in which it said: "The Islamic republic of Iran…will reply to such propaganda moves [new sanctions] by developing its legal missile programme more seriously and upgrading its defence capabilities as well as national security." Lifting the nuclear sanctions is a key development signalling that Iran now fully complies with international regulations in the continued peaceful development of its nuclear programme. Although it will take years to lift all the nuclear-related sanctions, the outcome marks a new level of acceptance in the international community for Iran, which had long been ostracised as a result of its nuclear activities. Not all nations have welcomed the outcome, with Israel in particular, taking a strong stance against it. The US’s decision to impose sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile programme came after the country tested missiles in October and November 2015, violating UN resolutions. The US has been under pressure to take a stance on this, resulting in its decision to impose sanctions on 11 companies and individuals linked to Iran’s programme. 

Story highlights NEW: "We've now closed off every single path Iran had to building a (nuclear) bomb," Obama says Treasury Department issues new sanctions related to Iran's ballistic missile program, not its nuclear activities Iranian President says implementation of nuclear deal will help "the security and stability of the region"

CNN —

Iran has completed the necessary steps in a deal to restrict its nuclear program, meaning international economic sanctions are lifted, officials from the EU and the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said Saturday.

The milestone was welcomed by the parties involved in the deal, with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry saying the world was a safer place as a result and Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani hailing it as a “historic day” for the Islamic republic.

“We’ve now closed off every single path Iran had to building a (nuclear) bomb,” U.S. President Barack Obama said Sunday. “We’ll know if Iran ever tries to break out.”

He added: “We’ve achieved this historic progress through diplomacy, without resorting to another war in the Middle East.”

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran on Sunday, Rouhani hailed the agreement as “a tool for the progress, growth and development of the country, as well as the security and stability of the region.”

He said that the agreement proved that “constructive engagement” with the world was the right path.

“As of today, it has become clear that the win-win policy is the right one,” he said. “We can interact with the world in favor of our nation, and of course not in a manner that disfavors others.”

Obama said that engaging with Iran had created a unique opportunity, and that the international community had reached a “milestone” in ensuring the Islamic republic did not develop a nuclear weapon.

‘A new phase’ in relations

Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that relations between Iran and the world body now entered “a new phase.”

“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,” said Director General Yukiyo Amano of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

European Union Foreign Affairs Chief Federica Mogherini said that the economic sanctions against Iran were lifted now that the country has joined the UK, United States, France, Germany, China, Russia and the EU in “the field of peaceful users” of nuclear energy.

President Barack Obama signed an executive order lifting some of the U.S. economic sanctions on Iran, the White House announced.

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Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement confirming the IAEA has verified that Iran “has fully implemented its required commitments.”

“Iran has undertaken significant steps that many, and I do mean many, people doubted would ever come to pass. And that should be recognized, even though the full measure of this achievement can only be realized by assuring continued full compliance in the coming years,” Kerry said.

World ‘safer’ due to deal

UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond echoed Kerry’s comment, saying the deal “makes the Middle East and the wider world a safer place.” He added that Iran’s nuclear program has been substantially rolled back.

Rouhani welcomed the IAEA announcement.

Israel was not happy.

“Today, a country that threatens the existence of Israel, denies the Holocaust, destabilizes the Middle East, subjugates its own people and supports terror across the globe is being strengthened by the international community,” Yair Lapid, a member of the Knesset, said. “The lifting of sanctions strengthens Hezbollah, it strengthens (Syrian President Bashar al-) Assad, it strengthens terrorists across the region who benefit from Iranian support.”

“The lifting of sanctions strengthens Hezbollah, it strengthens (Syrian President Bashar al-) Assad, it strengthens terrorists across the region who benefit from Iranian support.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is monitoring Iran and will report any violation of the nuclear agreement. Iran has not given up on its ambition to acquire a nuclear weapon, he said.

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‘Implementation Day’

The IAEA – the U.N. nuclear watchdog organization – released its report assessing Iran’s compliance with an agreement with foreign powers, including the United States and the European Union.

The release heralds “Implementation Day,” the formal name for the start of the next phase in the agreement called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which was hammered out with Iran in July. The new “Day” will mean the first wave of economic relief for Iran.

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Before the announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had already exuded confidence in a post to Twitter shortly after arriving in Vienna that the milestone has been met. “#ImplementationDay, it’s now time for all – especially Muslim nations – to join hands and rid the world of violent extremism. Iran is ready.”

It must reduce its level of uranium enrichment, drastically reduce the size of its stockpile of enriched uranium, reduce the number of centrifuges and agree to unfettered international inspections.

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In return, Iran will be able to sell its oil again on world markets and its banks will be able to connect to the global system. The country will also regain access to billions in assets frozen overseas.

“As of today, our businessmen and -women, our entrepreneurs and traders can resort to the legal norms of banking to expand trade and exports,” Rouhani told reporters Sunday.

“Today we are in an environment in which we can engage with the world in the economic, political and legal spheres to advance our national interest.

In a possible sign of the thaw in relations, it was announced that Iran had freed four American prisoners, including Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, as part of a prisoner swap deal. Another American, who was not a part of the exchange, was also released.

New sanctions over ballistic missiles

But not all nuclear-related sanctions will be rescinded immediately – that process won’t be completed for about 10 years, should the deal hold.

And in a sign that the United States would continue to take action against Iran’s ballistic missile program, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced Sunday that it had designated 11 entities and individuals it said were working on behalf of the program.

The office said in a statement that it had sanctioned the United Arab Emirates-based Mabrooka Trading Co. and an associated network, based in China and the UAE, that had been involved in procuring goods for Iran’s ballistic missile program.

The network had done this by using front companies in third countries to obtain sensitive goods used in the production of ballistic missiles, disguising the end user of the goods, the statement said.

The office also sanctioned five Iranian citizens who it said had worked to procure ballistic missile components for Iran.

“Iran’s ballistic missile program poses a significant threat to regional and global security, and it will continue to be subject to international sanctions,” said Adam J. Szubin, acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

“We have consistently made clear that the United States will vigorously press sanctions against Iranian activities outside of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – including those related to Iran’s support for terrorism, regional destabilization, human rights abuses, and ballistic missile program,” he said.

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