MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines on Wednesday, July 15, hailed a recently concluded nuclear deal that ensures Iran does not acquire a nuclear bomb while Western countries lift crippling sanction. 

“The Philippines welcomes the just concluded agreement on nuclear matters reached between Iran and the 6 negotiating countries – China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK, and the US,” the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.

“The agreement is an important measure in promoting security and stability, both regional and global,” the DFA added 

Major powers and Iran struck the historic deal Tuesday, July 14. 

The landmark deal is expected to sharply curb Iran’s nuclear program and impose strict United Nations (UN) inspections in order to make any drive to make nuclear weapons all but impossible and easily detectable.

‘Maintain positive momentum’

In return, the web of UN and Western sanctions choking Iranian oil exports and the economy of the country of 78 million people would be progressively lifted.

In its statement Wednesday, the DFA added, “We call on the countries involved and the international community to help maintain the positive momentum for long-term peace that this agreement creates.”

Iran’s ambassador to the Philippines, Ali Asghar Mohammadi, told reporters in November 2013 that the effects of a final nuclear agreement will trickle down to the Southeast Asian country. 

Mohammadi explained that a final agreement will bring “more stability and more economic development and more development in the Middle East and Persian Gulf countries.”

“If there is more prosperity in the Persian Gulf countries, it means more opportunities or jobs; Filipinos are among the best to catch those opportunities. If there is peace and development in the region, you are going to have a very fair and balanced oil price, which your ordinary people enjoy here in the Philippines – even the people, drivers of cars, of jeepneys. They should not pay a high price for this oil and energy,” Mohammadi said.

Iran’s archfoe Israel quickly lashed out at the agreement, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as “a historic mistake for the world.” – with reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com