Tehran - Iran awarded medals of honor on Monday to its nuclear negotiators who helped clinch a landmark deal with world powers last year.

President Hassan Rouhani awarded the “Medal of Merit” to Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the “Medal of Courage” to Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan and Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi, who is also the country’s nuclear chief.

The historic July 14 agreement brought about the lifting of international economic sanctions last month after the United Nations certified that Iran has met all its commitments to curbing its nuclear activities.

“We passed behind us difficult days, difficult hours and nights,” Rouhani said at the ceremony. “But we did not lose the right path and God did not leave us alone.”... Read More: VIN