Trump threatens Iran with broader sanctions
The US president said the sanctions he has in place for Iran will go beyond those that will be imposed on November 4. Trump also increased his country's sanctions on Lebanon's Hezbollah.
On Thursday, October 25, Donald Trump announced at a ceremony at the White House that he had signed legislation designed to prevent Lebanon's Hezbollah from accessing the international financial system.
The ceremony was held to mark the 35th anniversary of the bombing of the US Marine Corps headquarters in Beirut, a terrorist attack that killed 241 US service members, 58 French peacekeepers, and six civilians.
The US President, while stating that the Islamic Republic played a key role in the creation of Lebanon's Hezbollah, said: "Apart from Al-Qaeda, no other terrorist group has as much American blood on its hands as Hezbollah."
In 1997, Washington designated Lebanon's Hezbollah as a terrorist group.
In his speech at the White House, Trump said that one of the reasons for the US withdrawal from the JCPOA was Iran's support for "international terrorist groups."
Cutting off Iran's economic lifeline
The US President went on to state that all sanctions that were lifted in connection with the JCPOA would be reimposed on November 5th (November 14), and in addition, he has considered additional sanctions against Iran.
The most important goals of these sanctions are to prevent the sale of Iranian oil and completely cut off Tehran's banking connections with US allies. Trump emphasized: "We will not allow the main sponsor of global terrorism to obtain the most deadly weapon. Never."
In a comprehensive report published on Thursday about Lebanon's Hezbollah, the Associated Press quoted the US State Department as saying that the Islamic Republic provides $700 million annually to the Lebanese group.
Source: DW
