Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has praised his new nuclear deal with world powers as a “golden page” in the country’s history - adding that it was only opposed by “Zionists and warmongers”.

On Saturday, the international nuclear watchdog IAEA declared that Iran had finally terminated its nuclear programme as part of a deal it struck with the West last year. As a result, the European Union and United Nations lifted their sanctions against Iran, while Barack Obama announced that the United States would be suspending its own nuclear-related sanctions.

Rouhani hailed the deal as a “turning point” for the country in a parliamentary address on Sunday. He said it gave Tehran the opportunity to “develop the country, improve the welfare of the nation, and create stability and security in the region”.

But in a thinly-veiled attack on Israel, he said that all parties concerned were satisfied with the deal, “with the exception of Zionists and warmongers…American hardliners and extremists”.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the West’s removal of sanctions.

He warned: “Iran has not abandoned its aspirations to acquire nuclear weapons and continues to destabilise the Middle East and spread terrorism throughout the world.”

He added: "Israel will continue to monitor Iran's negative activities and will take all necessary measures to maintain its security and defend itself."