Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, has hailed a “golden page” in the country’s history and a “turning point” in its economy as Iranians enjoyed the first day without sanctions, with banks reconnected to the global banking systems.
The end of decade-long sanctions lifted the spirit of Iranians after western officials formally abolished a complex network of punitive measure as the landmark nuclear deal was implemented. The mood in Tehran was upbeat, with many people optimistic of the post-sanctions era, but there were no reports of street celebrations as witnessed last summer. On Sunday morning, Rouhani delivered his budget before the Iranian parliament before appearing at a press conference with international media, where he said: “Today is a historic and exceptional day in the political and economic history of the people of Iran.”
The moderate cleric said he had fulfilled his main election promise that “centrifuges will turn and so will the wheels of people’s livelihoods”. “After 12 years of patience and resistance ... we have reached a turning point,” he said.
“From today, merchants and entrepreneurs in our country can benefit from normal ways of banking transactions to start their exports ... from today, our banks are reconnected to the world’s banking system ... from today, the restrictions on our oil exports are lifted ... from today, our companies can buy modern passenger planes, ensuring the safety of our people in the air.
“Today is the day of victory. It’s now made clear that our great power is power of diplomacy, something that many in the region and the world did not want to believe. A new chapter has begun in our relations with the countries in the region and the broader world.”
In the audience were the wives of the Iranian nuclear scientists who were assassinated under mysterious circumstances in the past five years.
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