New US Sanctions on Iran

By Staff, Agencies 

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing further sanctions on Iran, as tensions between the Washington and Tehran have escalated to an unprecedented level.

The order would deny the Leader of the Islamic Revolution His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei and others access to financial instruments. 

“We will continue to increase pressure on Tehran,” Trump said on Monday in the Oval Office. “Never can Iran have a nuclear weapon.”

In remarks to reporters, Trump stressed his administration is not interested in a military conflict with Iran, even though the man reportedly called off an attack at the last minute last week in retaliation for the drone incident.

“We do not seek conflict with Iran or any other country,” Trump claimed. “I can only tell you we cannot ever let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”

He suggested the military could have a role to play in the ongoing dispute, if deemed necessary. “I think a lot of restraint has been shown by us, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to show it in the future, but I felt that we want to give it a chance ... I think Iran has a phenomenal future,” he said.

In separate remarks, the US treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said the sanctions target specific military leaders who the US believe are responsible for shooting down the US drone last week. Mnuchin noted that Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, alongside Imam Khamenei, is among those targeted, and that the sanctions target Iran’s “chain of command” in order to lock up billions worth of Iranian assets.

“Along with our existing sanctions ... we have additional sanctions to go after the supreme leader’s office and lock up literally billions of dollars’ worth of assets,” Mnuchin said in the White House briefing room.

“Along with that action today, we are also announcing specific sanctions targeting those responsible for recent activities.”