Iran Sanctions Lifted after Complying with Nuclear Deal Obligations

The economic sanctions on Iran have been lifted after the country’s compliance with obligations under its nuclear agreement with world powers was certified.

The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, announced the lifting of sanctions in accordance with the deal “as Iran has fulfilled its commitment”.

International nuclear watchdog IAEA said its inspectors had verified that Iran had taken the required steps.

A deal between Iran and world powers was agreed in July 2015.

The IAEA’s Director General Yukiya Amano said it was “an important day for the international community”.

Lifting the international sanctions on Iran will unfreeze billions of dollars of assets and allow Iranian oil to be sold internationally.

As part of the deal, Iran had to drastically reduce its number of centrifuges and dismantle a heavy-water reactor near the town of Arak, both of which could be used in creating nuclear weapons.

Iran has always maintained its program is peaceful, but opponents of the deal – such as some US Republicans – say it does not do enough to ensure the country cannot develop a nuclear bomb.

Secretary of State John Kerry has ordered that US nuclear-related economic sanctions against Iran be lifted.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani congratulated the nation following the IAEA announcement. The deal “had “borne fruit,” Hassan Rouhani tweeted, adding that he took “a bow before a patient nation like ours”.

On the same day it emerged that Iran had released Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian and three other Iranian-American prisoners in an apparent prisoner swap with the US.

Jason Rezaian, 39, was jailed on charges, including espionage, in November 2015.

America said it was offering clemency to seven Iranians being held in the US for sanctions violation.