New US Sanctions Against Iran Coincide with Request for Release of American Prisoners
The United States has imposed new sanctions against Iran. This comes as Washington has proposed assistance to Iran for combating the coronavirus pandemic and has also requested that the Islamic Republic release American prisoners.
Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, announced yesterday, Tuesday, March 27 (March 17), at a press conference the implementation of new sanctions against Iran.
He stated that Washington is continuing its “maximum pressure” campaign to bring Iran’s oil sales to zero. This campaign began in 2018 with the start of Donald Trump’s presidency and his unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear agreement with Iran, and aims to limit Iran’s nuclear program, missile program, and regional activities.
The US Secretary of State said that the new blacklist of the State Department includes 9 legal entities in South Africa, Hong Kong, and China, as well as three Iranian individuals who conduct “significant transactions” in the petrochemical sector with Iran.
Pompeo did not name these individuals, but said that the blacklist also includes the “Social Security Investment Company of the Armed Forces” and its manager.
Additionally, the US Treasury Department added six people, including five Iranian nuclear scientists and 18 companies related to the US “legal entities list” that have assisted Iran’s nuclear program, Pakistan’s missile program and unprotected nuclear program, and have also worked to modernize the Russian military, to this list.
The US Treasury Department, without naming these individuals and companies, said that the list includes one company in Iran, two entities in China, 9 entities in Pakistan, and five entities in the United Arab Emirates, and has been implemented with the aim of limiting and reducing exports of raw and primary materials to these companies.
These foreign companies are subject to sanctions preventing them from receiving all or part of their required materials through exports from the United States, unless exporters can obtain the necessary licenses.
This comes as a source familiar with the matter, who did not want his name disclosed due to the sensitivity of the issue, said last Monday that it is unlikely the United States will respond positively to China’s request to modify sanctions against Iran due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s president, has sent letters to leaders of several countries regarding the situation of combating the coronavirus and wrote that American sanctions have prevented this country from fighting the coronavirus.
Pompeo also called on Iran at his press conference to release American citizens imprisoned in Iran due to the coronavirus outbreak. He also stated that Washington is aware that the Islamic Republic is reviewing the issue of releasing American prisoners in Iran.
According to the latest official statistics, more than 16,000 coronavirus cases have been identified in Iran so far, and 988 people have died.
Source: DW
