International reactions to the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the formal name of the July 14 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers, have been permeated with praise and promising projections.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hailed on Saturday the implementation of the nuclear accord, saying that "this is a significant milestone", according to a statement by Ban's spokesman posted on the UN website.
"This is a significant milestone that reflects the good faith effort by all parties to fulfill their agreed commitments," said the statement.
Commending the dedication and determination shown on all sides, Ban encouraged "the parties to continue to implement the JCPOA in the months and years ahead," it said.
Ban also noted that "this achievement demonstrates that international proliferation concerns are best addressed through dialogue and patient diplomacy," it said.
The UN chief hoped the success of this agreement will contribute to greater regional and international cooperation for peace, security and stability in the region and beyond, it said.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said in a statement released by the website of the UK government, "Years of patient and persistent diplomacy, and difficult technical work, have borne fruit as we now implement the deal."
Hammond added that "the UK has played a central role, and I hope British businesses seize the opportunities available to them through the phased lifting of sanctions on Iran. The future is as important as the landmark we’ve reached today."
France welcomed the start of the post-sanctions era, as Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius hoped for the same "spirit of cooperation" with Tehran in other regional issues, AFP reports.
"This is an important step for peace and security," he said in a statement. "At a time when the region is seeing immense challenges and strong tensions, I hope that the spirit of cooperation that marked the conclusion of the deal can also be brought to all the other regional issues," he said.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a statement released by the country's Foreign Ministry website that the implementation of the deal marks "a historic success for diplomacy".
The diplomatic victory allows for the hope that "we may yet succeed in defusing other urgent crises and conflicts in the region, especially regarding the civil war in Syria," he said.
"It won't happen overnight and it won't be easy, but neither were the nuclear negotiations with Iran," said Steinmeier.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry also said in a statement that “the release of the IAEA director’s report on Iran’s nuclear program inaugurates the beginning of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA],” TASS reported.
"In line with the resolution which the IAEA board of governors approved on December 15, 2015, all the previous resolutions on the Iran nuclear program are terminated," the ministry said.
"Thus, it has become a huge step towards the situation around Iran getting back to normal finally."
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi welcomed the achievement of the deal, saying the "Implementation Day" of the nuclear deal is "worth celebrating" for the Iranian people and has a "demonstrative effect" while the international nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is facing test.
Wang said in an interview with Xinhua that the "Implementation Day" was a solid step on the way to the final political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.
The minister urged all parties to continue to earnestly implement the deal in the coming decade to "create history again".
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida also appreciated the implementation of the nuclear deal in a statement published on the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s website.
"The government of Japan welcomes that the final agreement has reached the phase of implementation as a result of strenuous efforts made by all the negotiating parties and the International Atomic Energy Agency," he said.
"Seizing this opportunity of important progress, Japan will further strengthen the historically friendly relationship with Iran," Kishida stressed.
Foreign Minister of Australia Julie Bishop also said Sydney would lift its sanctions against Iran within days.
“I welcome today’s announcement that Iran has met its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal,” said the Australian minister in a statement that appeared on the country’s Foreign Ministry official website.
“It is expected that sanctions on Iran, under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, will be lifted after the Security Council has received the IAEA report in coming days. The Australian government will then move to lift relevant UN and certain autonomous sanctions, including economic sanctions," Bishop said.
“The easing of these sanctions will ensure that Australian business is not disadvantaged in pursuing opportunities in Iran,” she added.
