Iranians welcome lifting of sanctions

Iranians welcome lifting of sanctions

Iranians welcomed on Sunday (January 17) the lifting of crippling sanctions by the United States, European Union and U.N. after the country reached a nuclear deal with world powers allowing Tehran to emerge from years of international isolation.

On the streets of Tehran people said they were happy as all the morning newspapers headlines announced the news.

“I’m really very happy now. When I walk in the streets today, I see that everywhere I go this is the hot topic. All the people are happy. At least a negative load (has been removed). Maybe it hasn’t been a big deal, but anyway, their minds were distorted. That negative load, and hallucination of a war or such things was in people’s mind and it is gone now. Naturally when you see people’s faces you become happy,” said one Tehran resident, Mohesen Sadeghi.

“In my opinion it is a great victory for the nation of Iran. From the point of view that once more they succeeded in proving themselves in the international scene,” added another man.

Speaking to parliament earlier on Sunday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hailed the nuclear deal with world powers and the resulting lifting on Saturday of U.S., European and United Nations sanctions as a “golden page” in Iran’s history.

Rouhani, a pragmatist elected in 2013 on promises to end Iran’s years of sanctions and isolation, said he looked forward to an economic future less dependent on oil exports.

The International Atomic Energy Agency ruled on Saturday (January 16) that Iran had abided by last year’s agreement with six world powers to curtail its nuclear programme, triggering the end of sanctions.

Tehran resident Mehdi Asghari said the sanctions had always been “an injustice” towards his country.

“These sanctions were basically an injustice permitted against the people of Iran. Removing them was removing this injustice, and an unfair and irrational limitation enforced against Ian. It creates a sense of happiness, provided that, God willing, it would be really practical, and not repeated after a short while under other excuses. New pressures would not be exerted on Iran,” said Mehdi Asghari.

“Well we are happy. It feels like we are free now. We are out of the cage and we can do whatever we want,” added another Tehran resident, Mohammad Safari Asl.

With sanctions finally lifted, Iranians must settle down to the sober task of rebuilding an economy that has been battered even since the deal was reached in July last year

The end of sanctions means more money and prestige for Shi’ite Muslim Iran as it becomes deeply embroiled in the sectarian conflicts of the Middle East, notably in the Syrian civil war where its allies are facing Sunni Muslim rebels.

Iran denies its nuclear programme was aimed at obtaining an atomic bomb. Washington maintains separate, less comprehensive sanctions on Iran over its missile programme.

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Iranians welcome lifting of sanctions

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