Joy, relief in Iran as nuclear deal promises end to sanctions
Iranians reacted with delight and relief as they digested news of a landmark nuclear deal sealed with world powers, an accord which promises to end years of bruising economic sanctions.
"We have been waiting for it for so long," Amir Tehrani, a 34-year-old English teacher, said in Tehran on Tuesday. "I just hope that the pressure on our lives and on the cost of living will be reduced."
Diplomats reached an agreement overnight following marathon negotiations in Vienna. The accord will curb Iran's nuclear program in return for a lifting of restrictions that slashed oil exports in half and cut the country off from global finance.
While full implementation may take months, the oil-rich nation will be able to ramp up its energy exports and lure global investors.
"It's wonderful news, we've all been up since last night and all of my co-workers have been checking the news every second on the Internet," said Parviz Karimi, a marketing manager at Blue Gulf Shipping in Tehran, which has seen its business plummet under sanctions. "We know that the big changes won't happen immediately, but the flow of work will be better and faster."
Iran's economy is 15 to 20 per cent smaller than it would have been without the sanctions imposed after 2010, according to a January report by the Congressional Research Service.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/middle-east/70238205/joy-relief-in-iran-as-nuclear-deal-promises-end-to-sanctions