by Our Foreign Desk

IRANIAN President Hassan Rouhani welcomed official implementation at the weekend of the deal on his country’s nuclear programme between Tehran and six world powers as satisfying everyone but extremists.

“In implementing the deal, all are happy except zionists, warmongers, sowers of discord among Islamic nations and extremists in the US. The rest are happy,” he told the Majlis parliament in comments broadcast live on TV.

The president said the deal had “opened new windows for engagement with the world.”

Central Bank governor Valiollah Seif revealed yesterday that more than $30 billion (£21bn) in assets overseas would become immediately available. The total of frozen Iranian assets overseas is estimated at $100bn (£70bn).

Mr Seif said that Iran would not transfer the cash but use it to import goods it needs.

A European oil embargo on Iran will end, with 38 million barrels of oil already in Iran’s floating reserves ready to enter the market, according to the International Energy Agency.

This money will help Iran undertake necessary repairs to its oil and gas fields to boost production. Iran has the world’s fourth-largest proven reserve of crude oil and ranks second in proven natural gas reserves behind Russia.

Transport Minister Abbas Akhondi said that the government had agreed to buy 114 new planes from European consortium Airbus.

Iran is looking to buy up to 400 new planes to replace its ageing commercial fleet, some of which are grounded due to a lack of spare parts.

Mr Rouhani presented parliament with a draft budget yesterday that plans for an economic windfall even as it reduces reliance on oil revenues.

The $75bn (£52.6bn) budget is about 4.2 per cent higher than the previous year’s budget of $72bn (£50.5bn).

Iraqi government spokesman Saad al-Hadithi said last night that Baghdad believed that the Iran deal “will be a catalyst for beginning to solve a number of disputes in the region peacefully and through dialogue.”

US Secretary of State John Kerry said in Vienna that the development “marks the first day of a safer world,” adding: “We are really reminded once again of diplomacy’s power to tackle significant challenges.”