'The US is taking sweeping actions to prevent the world’s top state sponsor of terror from obtaining a nuclear weapon'
US slaps new sanctions on Iran
US administration announces new sanctions against Iran's defense ministry and others involved in Tehran's nuclear and weapons program.
Monday 21/09/2020
'The US is taking sweeping actions to prevent the world’s top state sponsor of terror from obtaining a nuclear weapon'
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration on Monday announced new sanctions against Iran's defense ministry and others involved in Tehran's nuclear and weapons program to support US assertion that all UN sanctions against Tehran are now restored, a move key allies such as the Europeans dispute.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, flanked by other top members of President Donald Trump’s national security team, also told reporters Washington had imposed new sanctions on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who has forged closer ties between Caracas and Tehran.
“Rather than waiting for Iran to threaten the world, the US is taking sweeping actions to prevent the world’s top state sponsor of terror from obtaining a nuclear weapon. This includes sanctions on 25 entities and individuals. We are keeping Americans and world citizens safe!” tweeted Pompeo.
The United States says it has triggered a “snap back”, or resumption, of virtually all UN sanctions on Iran, including the arms embargo, to come into effect at 8 p.m. on Saturday (0000 GMT Sunday).
Reuters reported on Sunday that Washington will sanction more than two dozen people and entities. A major part of the new US push is an executive order targeting those who buy or sell Iran conventional arms that was previously reported by Reuters and will also be unveiled by the Trump administration on Monday.
Under the 2015 nuclear deal, which the United States had unilaterally pulled out of in 2018, the UN conventional arms embargo is set to expire on Oct. 18.
Other parties to the nuclear deal and most UN Security Council members have said they do not believe the United States has the right to reimpose the UN sanctions and that the US move has no legal effect.
On Friday, Britain, France and Germany told the Security Council that UN sanctions relief for Iran - agreed under the 2015 nuclear deal - would continue beyond Sunday, despite Washington’s assertion.