International Sanctions on Iran Lifted

by Stephen Lendman

On January 16, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said "Agency inspectors on the ground verified that Iran has carried out all measures required under the JCPOA (nuclear deal) to enable" lifting international sanctions.

"Relations between Iran and the IAEA now enter a new phase. It is an important day for the international community. I congratulate all those who helped make it a reality, especially the group of countries known as the (P5+1), Iran and the IAEA Board."

A White House statement said the IAEA "verified that Iran has completed the necessary steps under the Iran deal that will ensure Iran's nuclear program is and remains exclusively peaceful."

Washington "will begin lifting its nuclear-related sanctions on Iran. (Others) remain in place." Obama issued an Executive Order, revoking earlier EO's imposing nuclear related sanctions.

A letter to the House speaker and Senate president explained the action taken, Obama saying in part:

"I have determined that Iran's implementation of the nuclear related measures specified in sections 15.1-15.11 of Annex V of the JCPOA, as verified by the IAEA, marks a fundamental shift in circumstances with respect to Iran's nuclear program."

"All agencies of the United States Government are directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out (EO) provisions," lifting nuclear related sanctions.

From Vienna, John Kerry hailed "a critical and auspicious milestone…(The IAEA confirmed Iran is) in compliance with the (nuclear) agreement" reached last July.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini affirmed the lifting of "multilateral and national economic and financial sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program…"

A US Treasury Department statement said foreign subsidiaries of US companies may operate in Iran. Non-US citizens may trade with the Islamic Republic. 

Americans are prohibited from doing it, despite the longstanding ban on exporting commercial aircraft now lifted.

Israel reacted as expected, intending no letup in its efforts to undermine what's been achieved, Netanyahu saying:

"Israel will continue to monitor Iran's negative activities…" He lied, claiming "Iran has not abandoned its aspirations to acquire nuclear weapons and continues to destabilize the Middle East and spread terrorism throughout the world."

Israel's hardline UN envoy Danny Danon repeated the Big Lies, his comments similar to Netanyahu's. 

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan irresponsibly claimed lifting international sanctions marks "a new and dangerous time…This is a difficult day for all countries in the region."

Former Foreign Minister/ultranationalist hardliner Avigdor Lieberman outrageously compared implementation day to the 1938 Munich Agreement, WW II following a year later.

Israel considers individuals, groups or nations opposing its ruthless agenda terrorists. Iran's nuclear program is entirely peaceful with no military component.

It's the region's leading proponent of peace, stability and elimination of nuclear weapons. Israel is its greatest threat, partnered with Washington and other rogue states.

Bipartisan congressional hardliners continue hyping the nonexistent threat of a nuclear-armed Iran - outrageously claiming unfreezing over $100 billion of its assets gives it vast new resources to spread terror, threaten its neighbors and covertly develop nuclear weapons.

AIPAC called implementation day a "dangerous moment for America and our allies," irresponsibly accusing Iran of nonexistent international restrictions on its activities.

US sanctions unrelated to nuclear ones remain in force, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, duplicitously saying:

The nuclear deal "does not resolve other areas where Iran's behavior remains unacceptable. We will continue to target sanctionable activities outside of the JCPOA - including those related to Iran's support for terrorism, regional destabilization, human rights abuses, and ballistic missile development."

US hostility toward Iran is largely unchanged. Nothing ahead suggests steps to normalize relations responsibly. 

Replacing Iranian sovereign independence with Western-controlled puppet governance remains official US policy. Longstanding Pentagon war plans may be implemented ahead to do it.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. 

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. 

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.