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US Imposes Sweeping New Sanctions on Iran

Nike Ching

   The United States is imposing sweeping new sanctions on Iran to curb
   Tehran's nuclear, missile, and conventional arms threats after
   Washington asserted the United Nations arms embargo on Iran was
   reimposed indefinitely late Saturday.

   White House National Secretary Adviser Robert O'Brien said Monday that
   U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is imposing new sanctions
   and export control measures on 27 entities and individuals connected to
   Iran's nuclear weapons program.

   A White House executive order lays out plans to block the property of
   individuals involved in transferring arms materials and military
   equipment to and from Iran. The [1]State Department and Treasury
   Department also outline [2]how foreign individuals and businesses will
   be penalized for violations.

   Iran's Defense Industries Organization (DIO) and its director, Mehrdad
   Akhlaghi-Ketabchi, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro are among
   those being sanctioned.

   "For nearly two years, corrupt officials in Tehran have worked with the
   illegitimate regime in Venezuela to flout the U.N. arms embargo. Our
   actions today are a warning that should be heard worldwide. No matter
   who you are, if you violate the U.N. arms embargo on Iran, you risk
   sanctions," said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, alongside other top
   U.S. officials from Trump's national security team, during a Monday
   press briefing at the State Department.

   U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin said, "Any financial
   institutions that knowingly facilitate a significant transaction for
   these individuals or entities could be subject to U.S. sanctions."

   Late Saturday, the U.S. asserted that all U.N. sanctions eased or
   lifted by the 2015 nuclear deal, known formally as the Joint
   Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), are reimposed and must be
   enforced by U.N. member states.

   But U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the United Nations
   will not take any action,'¯"pending clarification by the Security
   Council"'¯on'¯whether sanctions that have been lifted should be
   reimposed.'¯

References

   1. https://www.state.gov/the-united-states-imposes-sweeping-new-sanctions-on-the-islamic-republic-of-iran/
   2. https://www.state.gov/sweeping-u-s-measures-to-support-return-of-un-sanctions-relating-to-irans-nuclear-missile-and-conventional-arms-programs/

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