WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The nuclear agreement reached by Iran and world powers in July proved possibilities of US diplomacy, President Barack Obama said Sunday.
"We are seeing what’s possible with the strong American diplomacy… that includes our diplomacy with the Islamic Republic of Iran," Obama said in a press conference following Iran’s JCPOA implementation day.
"Engaging directly with the Iranian government to sustain basis for the first time in decades has created a unique opportunity, a window, to try to resolve important issues," Obama said.
Barack Obama also stated that Washington intends to further sanction Tehran, if Iran maintains its ballistic missile program implementation.
Earlier in the day, the US Treasury Department sanctioned 11 entities and individuals, including six Iranians and one Chinese citizen, over their involvement in procurement on behalf of Iran’s ballistic missile program.
"We will continue to enforce these sanctions [for Iran’s ballistic program] vigorously," Obama told reporters.
On Saturday, Washington and Tehran reached a prisoner exchange deal. Under the agreement, Iran freed four Iranian-American prisoners, including Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, for seven Iranian nationals serving their sentence at US jails.
There are currently no formal diplomatic ties between Iran and the United States.
