Iran nuclear deal: International sanctions lifted
BBC, 4 minutes ago
copyrightEPA
International sanctions on Iran have been lifted after its 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".
The international nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, said its inspectors had verified that Iran had taken the required steps.
A deal between Iran and world powers was agreed last July.
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 programme 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.
Image captionThe IAEA released this infographic on its programme in Iran
Earlier on Saturday it emerged that Iran had released Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian and three other Iranian-American prisoners in an apparent prisoner swap with the United States.
Rezaian, 39, was jailed on charges, including espionage, last November.
The US said it was offering clemency to seven Iranians being held in the US for sanctions violation.