Jan. 16--Economic sanctions that crippled Iran's economy for years were lifted Saturday after world powers determined the Islamic republic has complied with a landmark deal aimed at preventing it from building a nuclear bomb.
Tens of billions of dollars will soon be available to Iran, as well as access to the international banking system and global market for the sale of oil and gas. President Obama immediately issued an executive order canceling some sanctions levied by the U.S., though others unrelated to Iran's nuclear program will remain in place.
Following a day of surprise prisoner swaps and last-minute delays, U.S., Iranian and European officials gathered in Vienna, the headquarters of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, and signed off on Iran's compliance, which includes its acceptance of routine inspections.
"We have reached implementation day," Secretary of State John F. Kerry said in Vienna, referring to the fulfillment of the agreement. Hailing a "critical and auspicious milestone," Kerry said the day signaled the "transition from an ambitious set of promises on paper" to real progress that "makes the world safer."
Kerry said the dramatic release Saturday of four Iranian-Americans held in Iranian jails was the product of a separate negotiation on the sidelines of the nuclear effort, but that its "pace and progress ... accelerated in the light of the relations forged" in the talks between Iran and the U.S.
Among the four was Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian. A fifth American, a student, was also being freed, while the U.S. granted clemency and release to seven Iranians jailed for or facing trial for alleged sanction violations in the U.S.
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The arms deal was signed last summer and has led to a surprisingly close diplomatic relationship between Kerry and Zarif, his Iranian counterpart. The Obama administration argues that the deal will block Iran's ability to build a nuclear bomb for at least a generation.
But the deal has sparked harsh criticism from conservatives in both nations, including among Republican presidential candidates, as well as the United States' two major regional allies, Israel and Saudi Arabia. They and U.S. Republicans argue that Iran cannot be trusted and will find ways to conceal continued nuclear development.
To meet its obligations, Iran had to remove the core of the plutonium-producing heavy water reactor at Arak, then fill the reactor with cement and destroy it; dismantle or mothball thousands of centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium; and ship nearly its entire stockpile of enriched uranium to Russia for reprocessing. Iranian and U.S. officials have said that all these steps have been taken, more than tripling the time Iran would need to produce a single nuclear weapon.
The government in Tehran now has access to more than $50 billion in frozen assets and oil revenue, mostly held in Asian banks. The U.S. embargo on trade with Iran will continue, but several exceptions will be allowed, including the import and export of foodstuffs.
Iranian individuals will be removed from U.S. government blacklists, while Europe will allow trade in software, gold and metals, and transportation equipment.
In recent months, business delegations from Europe, Asia and elsewhere have been making the rounds in Tehran with an eye toward new business opportunities in the nation of 80 million, which has long been economically isolated because of the sanctions.
Supporters have hailed the deal as a victory for diplomacy that has already had benefits, including, in addition to Saturday's prisoner releases, the quick freeing this week of 10 U.S. sailors who were captured in Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf. That incident was resolved within 24 hours after numerous telephone conversations between Zarif and Kerry.
"Today is a day when we proved that threats, sanctions, intimidation, pressure don't work," Zarif told reporters in Vienna. "Respect works. Through respect, through dialogue, through negotiations, we can in fact reach mutually acceptable solutions."
The United States and Iran have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1980. Leaders of both nations have emphasized that formal diplomatic ties still appear a long way off after decades of hostility.
Wilkinson reported from Washington, McDonnell from Beirut and special correspondent Mostaghim from Tehran.
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