All happy about deal except Israel, US hardliners: Rouhani

Published January 17, 2016
The Obama administration also announced new penalties Sunday on 11 individuals and entities involved in Tehran's ballistic missile program.─ AP
The Obama administration also announced new penalties Sunday on 11 individuals and entities involved in Tehran's ballistic missile program.─ AP
US President Barack Obama arrives to deliver a statement on Iran at the White House in Washington.─ Reuters
US President Barack Obama arrives to deliver a statement on Iran at the White House in Washington.─ Reuters

TEHRAN: Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday that the official implementation of the landmark deal reached between Tehran and six world powers has satisfied all parties except radical extremists.

Read: Nuclear sanctions lifted as Iran and US agree on dramatic prisoner swap

Speaking before the parliament in comments broadcast live on state television, Rouhani said, "In (implementing) the deal, all are happy except Zionists, warmongers, sowers of discord among Islamic nations and extremists in the US, The rest are happy."

Rouhani said the deal has "opened new windows for engagement with the world."

Related: Iran nuclear deal win may be short-lived for Rouhani

A strong supporter of the agreement, Rouhani sent out a celebratory tweet calling it a "glorious victory" late Saturday night while the speeches in Vienna were still taking place.

Rouhani also said the deal was a win for all negotiating parties and all factions inside Iran. "Nobody has been defeated in the deal neither inside the country nor the countries that were negotiating with us," he said, referring to the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany.

Rouhani said Iran should use the expected influx of money and investments to spark the "economic mutation" of the country, creating jobs and enhancing quality-of-life for Iranian citizens. Iran has been suffering double-digit inflation and unemployment rates for years.

Obama claims credit for 'smart' diplomacy

US President Barack Obama heralded the release of Americans held prisoner in Iran and the full implementation of a historic nuclear accord with the Islamic Republic, holding both up as victories for “smart” diplomacy and his pledge to deal directly with enemies of the United States.

“This is a good day,” Obama said in a statement from the White House. “When Americans are freed and returned to their families, that's something we can all celebrate.”

The Obama administration also announced new penalties Sunday on 11 individuals and entities involved in Tehran's ballistic missile program.

“We will continue to enforce these sanctions vigorously,” Obama said. “We are going to remain vigilant about it.”

UN's Ban commends US-Iran prisoner swap, lifting of sanctions

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also hailed the exchange of prisoners by the United States and Iran and the lifting of sanctions against Tehran, saying the two countries should now cooperate on additional challenges to find “a safer future”.

“I commend the moves by the governments of both countries to improve ties. I am also heartened by the lifting of sanctions against Iran,” he said on a visit to Dubai, adding he hoped the parties honoured a nuclear deal that made possible the lifting of curbs.

“Now is the moment to push for cooperation on other pressing challenges through dialogue which should continue to find a way for a safer future,” he said.

For Iran, long out in the economic cold over its contested atomic program, implementing the nuclear deal will be a welcome thaw.

More than $30 billion in assets overseas will become immediately available to the Islamic Republic. Official Iranian reports have set the total amount of frozen Iranian assets overseas at $100 billion

Related: Israel will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons: Netanyahu

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