Trump: New U.S. Sanctions Targeted at Ayatollah Khamenei
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order for new sanctions against Iran on Monday, June 24, before news camera crews. According to Trump, these sanctions are directed at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, and his office.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order for new sanctions against Iran on Monday, July 3 (June 24) at the White House before news camera crews.
Before signing the sanctions order, Trump said the new sanctions target Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his office, and will prevent the leader of the Islamic Republic from accessing financial resources.
The U.S. President described Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, as “responsible for hostile actions.”
He said: “Iran should never have nuclear weapons. Iran must stop supporting terrorism.”
The U.S. President once again stated that he remains ready for unconditional negotiations with Iran.
He said: “I am willing to negotiate if Iran’s leaders want to. If they don’t, that’s fine too. But we would like these negotiations to happen.”
Trump added: “Perhaps this will happen soon.”
The U.S. President emphasized: “We are not seeking war with Iran or with any other country. We have shown great restraint, but perhaps we can no longer continue this restraint.”
The U.S. President went on to describe Iranians as “extraordinary” people and said that if Iran truly does not seek nuclear weapons, the two countries could reach an agreement very quickly.
According to the U.S. President, the new sanctions are in response to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ action in downing an American surveillance drone over the Persian Gulf.
The American “Global Hawk” surveillance drone was targeted and shot down on Thursday, June 20, by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Iran stated that it shot down the drone after it entered Iranian airspace in the Kuh Mobarak region of Hormozgan Province. The U.S. has rejected Iran’s claim and says the drone was flying in “international airspace.”
Javad Zarif on the Sanctions List
Following the signing of the sanctions order by Donald Trump, Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury Secretary, appeared before journalists and said billions of dollars of Iranian assets would be blocked as a result of the new sanctions.
According to him, the U.S. has added Ayatollah Khamenei’s office, Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the aerospace forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Major General Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the ground forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, to the U.S. sanctions list.
In addition, according to Mnuchin, several naval commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps by the names of Abbas Golamsahahi, Ramadan Ziraahi, Yadallah Badin, Mansour Ravankaar, and Ali Azamai have been placed on the U.S. sanctions blacklist.
According to Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury Secretary, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Minister, will soon be added to the U.S. sanctions list. He said Iran’s Foreign Minister’s name will be added to the U.S. sanctions blacklist by the end of this week at the latest.
Source: DW
