The lifting of sanctions as a result of the Iran Deal has been lauded by political leaders in the West as well as in Iran, despite some mixed messages from Iranian leaders.
On Monday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei welcomed the lifting of international sanctions against Iran, but warned that Tehran should remain wary of the United States.
State television reported that Khamenei wrote to President Hassan Rouhani to congratulate him on implementing the nuclear deal, which resulted in US, European Union and United Nations sanctions being lifted over the weekend.
In his first comments since the deal took effect, Iran’s highest authority made clear that Washington should still be treated with suspicion, saying, “I reaffirm again that deceit and lack of commitment of arrogant states particularly U.S. in this issue and other issues must not be ignored.”
In a speech to the Iranian parliament on Monday Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said that Iran was “a messenger for peace, stability and security in the region and the world.”
He went on to say how the deal was an equal win for both Iran’s allies and enemies. No party won, everyone mutually benefited. However, in the same speech he also said, “In (implementing) the deal, all are happy except Zionists, warmongers, sowers of discord among Islamic nations and extremists in the US. The rest are happy.”
Last week Iran’s Interior Minister, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, said that supporting the “resistance” in fighting Israel was a priority of Tehran and called for a combined effort from Syria and Iran to “defeat the enemies (i.e. Israel and the US) and help the World of Islam.”
Leaders in the West have been praising the Iran deal. US President Barak Obama praised the lifting of sanctions as a “victory for democracy” and claimed the region and the world were safer as a result.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that regardless of the deal, Iran cannot be trusted.
“What is clear is that Iran will now have more means to turn to its terrorist activity and aggression in the region and the world, and Israel is prepared to handle any threat,” Netanyahu stated.
/CUFI UK
