Trump ratchets up Iran sanctions
‘Defective at its core’
DONALD Trump tightened the screw on Iran last night – restoring all sanctions that were lifted by Barack Obama.
The US president tweeted a provocative image of himself with the caption ‘Sanctions Are Coming’ – using the same typeface as TV fantasy series Game Of Thrones.
Iran’s shipping, financial and energy industries will be hit by sweeping sanctions from Monday, piling more strain on its already struggling economy.
The country’s crude oil exports will be hit particularly hard. Foreign companies which do business with blacklisted Iranian banks, ports and financial firms will also be penalised.
Some 700 Iranian companies, individuals, aircraft and ships will be added to the US sanctions list as Washington seeks to shut down foreign trade with Iran.
The White House move puts the US on a collision course with its EU allies. They oppose the sanctions and have vowed to help companies find ways to bypass them and keep doing business with Iran.
Sanctions opponents also fear the latest crackdown on Iran will push up the international price of oil. Mr Obama and America’s EU allies agreed a 2015 deal in which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief.
Despite evidence Iran had abided by the deal, Mr Trump withdrew the US from it in May, saying it was ‘defective at its core’ and had given Tehran a ‘cash lifeline’. He claimed it had not stopped Iran researching nuclear arms, supporting terrorism and spreading its influence across the Middle East.
In August, Washington drew criticism from EU leaders when it restored a first tranche of sanctions, although they did not include Iran’s oil industry. Iran’s oil exports have already fallen by about a million barrels a day while its currency has plunged in value, raising the price of everyday items.
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said yesterday: ‘These sanctions are far tougher than have ever been imposed on the Islamic Republic.’
Britain, France, Germany and the EU said in a joint statement last night: ‘We deeply regret the reimposition of sanctions by the United States.’ D-Day for Donald – Page 14
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