Iran Receives Billions of Dollars in Sanctions Relief

Saturday was “implementation day” for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) international agreement regarding Iran’s renegade nuclear program, with the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) declaring that Iran has complied with its provisions and earned relief from international sanctions. Over $30 billion in frozen assets became immediately available to the clerical regime in Teheran, although the US also imposed new sanctions on Iran in reaction to recent ballistic missile tests. Also over the weekend, several Americans held hostage in Iran, including pastor Saeed Abedini, were released in exchange for 7 Iranians held in US prisons. Reactions from various quarters to all these developments were swift and varied, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring “Even after the signing of the nuclear agreement, Iran has not relinquished its aspiration to obtain nuclear weapons and it will continue to undermine stability in the Middle East and spread terrorism around the world while violating its international obligations.” Read More >>