US ramps up Iran pressure

The US ramped up pressure on Iran with sanctions on 700 entities, targeting its energy and banking sector as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to rein in what it calls the Islamic republic’s “malign” activity in the Middle East as well as its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes.

The Treasury Department announced yesterday sanctions on 50 Iranian banks, 200 individuals, and shipping vessels tied to Iran’s shipping and energy sector and more than 65 Iranian aircraft. The action brings the total number of Iran-related targets to 900, the highest ever, according to the department.