Trump Imposes Iran Missile Sanctions and Keeps Nuclear Deal

 By Nick Wardhams
  • Treasury sanctions seven targets over ballistic missile plans
  • Sanctions waived under 2015 nuclear deal will stay in place

The U.S. imposed new measures aimed at punishing Iran for developing ballistic missiles while continuing to suspend sanctions linked to its nuclear program, in a reflection of the Trump administration’s difficult balancing act toward the Islamic Republic.

Dual announcements by the State and Treasury Departments on Wednesday focused on condemning Iran’s ballistic-missile program, its human rights record and its support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

At the same time, though, the administration notified Congress that it’s continuing to waive sanctions, including restrictions on oil sales, that were eased under the 2015 deal between world powers and Iran to curb its nuclear program. The U.S. is reviewing whether to continue honoring what President Donald Trump has called “the horrible Iran deal.”

The notification of waivers follows a finding in April that Iran is complying with its side of the deal. The Treasury on Wednesday also announced new U.S. sanctions against seven people linked to Iran’s ballistic missile program, including two senior defense officials and a China-based network that supports Iran’s military.

“This administration is committed to countering Iran’s destabilizing behavior, such as Iran’s development of ballistic missiles and support to the Assad regime,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. “It is alarming that individuals involved with Iran’s missile program are assisting the brutal Assad regime, and we are taking action to curtail this behavior.”

The Trump administration won’t seek to reduce Iran’s crude sales “at this time” in keeping with its commitments under the nuclear deal, according to the announcement. There are sufficient other supplies in the market to meet crude demand if Iranian exports were to be targeted, according to the finding.

The U.S. will continue to “scrutinize Iran’s commitment” to the nuclear deal while developing a “comprehensive Iran policy,” Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Stuart Jones said in a statement. “And above all, the United States will never allow the regime in Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.”

The State Department also released a report on Iran’s human rights violations that’s required by Congress every six months. The report said Iran continues to inflict torture, execute children convicted of crimes and detain people arbitrarily. “This pattern of behavior must come to an end,” the report said.

You may also like...

About us


Our Newly established Center for study of Asian Affairs has
branches in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, as well as freelances in some other countries.

For inquires, please contact: newsofasia.info@yahoo.com Mr.Mohd Zarif - Secretary of the Center and administer of the web-site www.newsofasia.net

Polls

Which region news you interested in most?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...