Tehran, Jan 17
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday hailed the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions on Tehran by the US and EU after the UN nuclear watchdog confirmed Tehran's commitments to the deal struck in July.
"Congratulations on this dignity and victory" as "we have opened a new chapter in our relations with the world", Rouhani said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency.
"Today is the era of a transition from sanctions to development," Rouhani was quoted as saying, adding that it requires work, innovation, investment, and grasping of the opportunities by all Iranians.
On Saturday, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Yukiya Amano said in a statement that: "Today, I released a report confirming that Iran has completed the necessary preparatory steps to start the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)."
Iran also promises more transparency of its nuclear programme thus allowing the UN nuclear inspectors to monitor Tehran's atomic plan.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Saturday jointly announced the implementation day of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the historic nuclear deal reached last July.
After the UN nuclear watchdog's announcement, the EU lifted its economic sanctions against Iran. Also, US President Barack Obama signed an executive order to lift sanctions on Iran related to its nuclear programme, said the White House.
"This is a historical moment... We have extended our friendship hands to the world and have opened new chapter in our relations with them," Rouhani said in the statement.
By the lifting of "oppressive sanctions ... we have crossed a dangerous turn in economy ... and our economy has been linked to that of the world."
The US and EU sanctions on Tehran's disputed nuclear programme in the past years had snapped the country's financial and economic ties with the international financial system and economic network.
"JCPOA is not a threat to any country. The friends of Iran are happy and the rivals should not be concerned. We are not a threat to any country. We give this message of peace, stability and security to the region and to the world as we protect Iran's dignity," the Iranian president said.
Earlier on Saturday, Iran and the US also swapped prisoners. Iran released four detained dual-nationals, including Iranian-American Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian.
Also, US media reported Saturday that Washington would either pardon or drop charges against seven Iranians as part of the prisoner exchange.
The seven Iranians -- six of whom are dual citizens -- were either accused or convicted of violating US sanctions.
Israeli to monitor Iran for any violations of n-deal: Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would continue to monitor Iran, a day after the announcement of the implementation of the nuclear deal between world powers and Tehran.
"Israel would continue to monitor Iran's international violations of the nuclear agreement and the ballistic missiles agreement, as well as its involvement with terrorism," Netanyahu said on Sunday at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting, Xinhua reported.
The prime minister, a vocal opponent of the deal between the P5+1 countries (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) and Iran, added that the international community must also keep a close eye on Iran and enact "grave sanctions" for any future violations.
Netanyahu added that now that economic sanctions will be lifted from Iran, the country would increase its involvement with terrorism and aggressive behaviour in the region. "Israel is ready to face any threat," he added.
The UN watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, announced on Saturday that Iran complied with all the demands stipulated in the July 2015 nuclear deal, prompting the debilitating economic sanctions, imposed on the country in the past decade, to be lifted.
Following Saturday's announcement, Netanyahu said in a statement that Iran is still interested in acquiring nuclear weapons, and that undermines stability in the region.
Israel, which was believed to have nuclear power, criticised the accord, with Netanyahu charging that Iran would be able to develop nuclear weapons despite the safeguards on capping its nuclear capability in the agreement.
The Israeli leader contents that a nuclear Iran would pose an "existential threat" to Israel and has alluded in past years to a possible preemptive attack against Tehran.
Iran, on its part, insists that its nuclear programme is aimed at peaceful purposes.
