Iran Sanctions Lifted As Nuclear Deal Implemented, US Hostages Freed
#ImplementationDay--I thank God for this blessing & bow to the greatness of the patient nation of Iran. Congrats on this glorious victory!
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 16, 2016
U.S. + EU will begin lifting nuclear-related sanctions, expanding the horizon of opportunity for the Iranian people.
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) January 16, 2016
Today marks the moment the #IranDeal has transitioned from ambitious promises on paper to measurable actions in practice.
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) January 16, 2016
We're getting to #ImplementationDay. Nothing serious. Diplomacy requires patience, but we all know that it sure beats the alternatives.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 16, 2016
Just days after two US Navy boats and ten sailors were seized at Farsi Island ahead of President Obama's state-of-the-union address and just days before Tehran will see international sanctions lifted as part of the "historic" nuclear accord, four US hostages have been freed in a prisoner swap between Washington and Tehran.
Among the detainees is Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian who was famously held for spying after being convicted in a shadowy trial last year and faced up to 20 years in an Iranian prison.
According to FARS, Iran also freed Marine veteran Amir Hekmati and Christian pastor Saeed Abedini, who had been held on a variety of charges.
"All four are duel U.S.-Iranian citizens, according to the semiofficial Mehr and Fars news agencies," WaPo notes, adding that "news of the exchange came as world leaders converged [in Vienna] on Saturday in anticipation of the end of international sanctions against Iran in exchange for significantly curtailing its nuclear program."
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was brimming with optimism when he arrived [in Vienna] earlier in the day and met with Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s foreign policy chief," WaPo says.
“This is a good day for the Iranian people . . . and for the world,” Zarif proclaimed. “What is going to happen today is proof . . . that major problems in the world could be tackled through dialogue, not threats, pressures and sanctions.”
"International sanctions on Iran will be lifted on Saturday when the United Nations nuclear agency declares Tehran has complied with an agreement to scale back its nuclear program," Reuters writes, adding that "'implementation day' of the nuclear deal agreed last year marks the biggest re-entry of a former pariah state onto the global economic stage since the end of the Cold War, and a turning point in the hostility between Iran and the United States that has shaped the Middle East since 1979."
The IAEA is reportedly set to issue a report that confirms Iran has complied with its commitments under the agreement struck last summer. That report will trigger the lifting of sanctions and the return of Iran to the world stage. A joint statement is expected later today.
This comes as US lawmakers push for fresh sanctions on Tehran in connection with two ballistic missile tests the Iranians carried out in October and November, and just weeks after an "incident" in the Strait of Hormuz saw the IRGC conduct a live-fire rocket test within 1,500 yards of a US aircraft carrier.
The deal has ruffled more than a few feathers in Riyadh, where the P5+1 agreement has stoked fears that America's rapprochement with the Iranians marks a shift in US Mid-East policy that could endanger the regional balance of power at a time when relations between the Sunni and Shiite powers have deteriorated markedly. As an aside, Zarif is trolling the Saudis on Twitter as we speak:
#ImplementationDay, it’s now time for all—especially Muslim nations—to join hands and rid the world of violent extremism. Iran is ready.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 16, 2016
Summing up Saturday's proceedings in Vienna:
* * *
From FARS
"Based on an approval of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) and the general interests of the Islamic Republic, four Iranian prisoners with dual-nationality were freed today within the framework of a prisoner swap deal," the office of Tehran prosecutor said.
Jason Rezaian, Amir Hekmat, Saeed Abedini and a fourth American-Iranian national who were jailed in Iran on various charges in recent years have all been released.
According o the swap deal, the US has also freed 6 Iranian-Americans who were held for sanctions-related charges..
A senior Iranian legislator citing an IRGC report on Rezaian's case said in October that he has been imprisoned for his attempts to help the US Senate to advance its regime change plots in Iran.
In late July 2014, Iran confirmed that four journalists, including Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian, had been arrested and were being held for questioning.
Rezaian's wife Yeganeh Salehi, a correspondent for the United Arab Emirates-based newspaper, the National, was also arrested at that time, but she and two others were released later.
According to the Constitution, the Judiciary is independent from the government in Iran.
Some reports earlier this year had spoken of a potential prisoner swap between Iran and US following the Vienna nuclear deal in July.
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The money that the US is giving back to Iran is funds that the US confiscated after the Iranian people overthrew the US and CIA backed Shah. He and the US were responsible for millions of Iranians deaths. Iran never had a nuclear bomb program in the first place but a nuclear medical program which incidentally is a monoply controlled by France and Israel. Enriching uranium from approximately 6%, (medical purposes), to enriching it for a nuclear bomb, (over 90%), cost billions. If the assumptions are true that Iran was making a nuclear bomb they would have to be the dumbest people on the planet because they could have purchased many nuclear devices for a fraction of the cost when the USSR fell and even today they could purchase one thru unofficial sources in Ukraine. The real reason for the sanctions were that the US and Israel did not want Iran to become a regional power and disrupt the "Greater Israel Project" which is driving all people out of the middle east, take over their land and then build settlements using donations by not only US citizens but by tax exempt charities approved by the US Treasury. Recently a law suit was filed against the agency by allowing these organizations not only to funnel money to build illegal settlements but for individuals and other entities to receive a tax deduction. Most of the violence in that part of the world is caused by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Quatar, Israel and parts of the US governement. By Obama changing this policy, ( and going head to head with the neocons in Washington), he is sending a very strong message to not only the US neocons but the above referenced countries that enough is enough. Parts of the US government are not under the control of the White House and this is the battle going on behind the scenes. Obama was placed in the WH to take back American foreign policy. The media paints the White House as having one failed foreign policy after another but in reality it is the neocons who have failed and it was the WH behind the scenes causing their failure. Take Ukraine. The WH had a deal with the duly elected government to hold free elections in 60 days but the State Department, (neocons Hillary and Nuland went on with the coup d' etat anyway), throwing the country into utter chaos. The plan was to provide financial support and huge amounts of weapons. The WH shut this down. Most of the countries in the EU know that the country is not worth saving and even the IMF ruled the country's debt to Russia is sovereign and must be repaid. Germany in spite of the EU sanctions made a deal with Gazprom and is expanding the Northstream pipeline and Ukraine will lose all transit revenues. Ukraine is a failed state, totally bankrupt and will have another coup d'etat. All those countries who were pressured by the EU and the US not to participate in the Southstream project are livid as they will not receive the millions in transit fees but now Germant will. The EU is going to collapse because of all the financial and now refugee problems that the neocons created. Most of the European populance have awoken are now are pushing back. Look for revolutions in countries of the EU. Another example is Bengahzi where the neocons, (Hillary), in the state department were smuggling weapons to Libya, (to overthrow Gaddafi) and sending weapons to the terrorists in Syria. When attacked the state department ask for military intervention but because all of this was done behind the back of the WH, Obama just said no and shut down the whole operation. Turkey. General Allen and the head of middle eastern operations made a deal with the Turkish government for a no fly zone in Syria which would have grounded all the Syrian Air Force jets. When the White House found out what was going on behind their back, Obama not only ordered all Patriot missile systems removed but ordered all other NATO countries who had the same systems in place to be removed. They were. Adding insult to injury, the WH made a deal with Russia which moved their air force into Syria providing a "no fly zone" not for the neocons but by Russia and Syria. Obama then orderd all F-15 and F-16s to return to the English air base where they were originally stationed. General Allen and the head of middle eastern operations at the DOD were fired! The neocons are extremely desparate to hold on to their power. They are intentionally attempting to start a war with both Russia and China as they realize their reign is coming to an end and they have nothing to lose. First we had the terrorist in Ukraine knocking out power to millions in Crimea and the curent blockade of food and other items to it's people. Then we had the default of the debt owned to Russia. Then we had the downing of the Russian jet. Then we had Turkey invading parts of Iraq. Then we had Saudi Arabia killing innocent men, women and children in Yemen. The we had the beheading of a prominent Shia clergy. Then we had the neocons claiming that the Iranians shot a missile at a US aircraft carrier. Then the two US heavily armed gunboats who just "strayed" into Iranian waters. Then we had the neocons crying foull that Iran tested some missiles which by the way is not illegal as they have the right as any other nation to equip and arm their military. Of course we had and to continue to have millions of refugees flooding into Europe as a warning by the neocons not to lift sanctions on Russia. Now we have all the sexual assults by the refugees. It doesn't take a rocket scientist that with over 80% of the "refugees being young males, these are not Muslims but one giant crime syndicate ordered by the neocons to not only disrupt the European way of life but to destroy their economies. To provide cover, the media blames the Muslims. We have also the west's economic hit teams attempting to destroy the markets and economies of Russia, China and most of the BRICS. With the NSA monitoring the correspondance of the neocons in government, the elected neocons and the Israeli govenment officials, it is no stretch of the imagination that all web sites are being monitored who are intentionally distorting the facts on the Iranian deal. Can you say IRS audit! Confiscation of assets! Charge with promoting terrorism! You could be charged and convicted by one of the secret courts and your family would never know! Yes things are changing. These are all acts of total fear and desparation as the reign of the neocons comes to an end. Don't be surprised of more and extreme false flag attacks in Europe and the US blaming on the "evil" Muslims. All is not what it seems as the MSM and the alternative media intentionally alter your perception of reality!
JImsJoe,
what a well said post.
thanks it's a a keeper.
class
+1. Nice analysis/synopsis.
Holy wall of text, batman.
Set-Up: Obama Coordinated Iran Hostage Release for SOTU; Riverine Capture Scuttles?
Set-up? Navy Boat Capture with Woman Sailor (Iran); Final Decision Now About Women in Combat RolesAn Iranian named Jarrett? That must be like a Canadian named Cruz.
hostages? I thought they were prisoners...
If that fat tub-o-lard shown in the photograph is Jason Rezaian, it doesn't look like he lost too much weight in the cold, bare Iranian prison.
I'm convinced Obama did this deal with Iran in exchange for some "vig" from the $100 billion. He's getting 5-10% deposited in offshore accounts for his own MyRA...
Give Iran their $150 Billion back and now the U.S. should take-out the source of world terrorism once and for all,which is Saudi Arabia.All the fire power is in place and ready to go.The U.S.,Russia,China,Britain,France.Take out the Wahhabi allies too.
I watched the LIVE feed earlier. It was like an Sunday " Billary Democrat' convention. Everything scripted, with some half/wit from Brussels. [ Vienna]
Did someone have orders to send the two gun boats into Iranian waters, so they could capture them and release them for the cameras?
Cheaper Oil coming up.
Making nice with Iran is one of the few things US foreign policy got right in recent years. It not only tells the Saudi's they are not the centre of the universe, it also adds a natural competitor for all the fattened Sunni Gulf oil rich Sheikdoms.
Add to that it doesn't compromise their favorite blowhard in Israel. Netanyahu can still howl about the Iran nuke threat like he has for 20 odd years, which is what he built his fear based career on. And it still leaves him able to cozy up to the not to bright Saudi Royals like he has done for some time now.
Unfortunately much of this contrasts with the US push to help the Saudi's obtain the chair of the UN human rights panel. But to be fair, the US had the support of other great nations such as Britain and France in that endeavour.
Then came the Saudi New Years greeting of parting 47 people from their heads. Truly a valuable and moral effort by all Western leaders invloved who back said 7th to 18th century based regime.
Something tells me Iran is being set up. Try this on for size.
Iran starts enrichment for civilian purposes, yada yada yada, a nuke goes off (my guess is Chicago), Iran gets accused, game on...
Kerry, you are the king of own goals.
welcome to a Middle East with "nuclear trip wires".
The words of PM Netanyahu (Israel) will come back to haunt the whole world ... from this point onwards.
There were no "hostages", they were all spies. This isn't the Iran Contra scandal.
And so the American voter sucker show continues....
If a Dumbublican RINO, does get the nomination over Trump, they will screw up, until another marxocrat gets elected, and can then start appeasing the next wannebe nuclear dictatorship......
I love how no one remembers the same high fives by the marxocrat Clinton Administration when they signed a treaty with North Korea, that they crowed would prevent them getting nukes......
If one day a nuke hits an American city from one of these appeased dictatorships, I can bet you the last thing that goes through the mind of the voters vaporized in that city, is the sadness at the loss of pleasure of cashing their government subsistance check that bought their vote....