United States tightens the sanctions noose on Iran

Washington/Tehran – Alleging Iran of violating the nuclear deal, the United States on Wednesday further tightened the sanctions noose on it. The decision ends the last remaining sanction waivers given to Iran under the 2015 nuclear deal. The United States has warned Iran to come to the dialogue table or be ready for an economic collapse. However, Iran has responded to the American announcement by asserting that the withdrawal of waivers won’t stop its nuclear programme.

Under the 2015 nuclear deal, the United States and other allied nations had extended certain waivers to Iran. It permitted Russia, China and the European Union to help Iran’s civilian nuclear projects. Three years back, although US President Donald Trump had withdrawn the United States from the nuclear deal with Iran, he had continued some waivers. However, henceforth, Iran won’t enjoy any exemptions, clarified US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. With it, the help given by Russia, China and the European Union to Iran’s Arak civil nuclear facility will also face US sanctions’ hurdles.

Iran claims Arak to be a civil nuclear plant used for the medical field. However, the United States alleges the Arak facility to be for military purposes. The new US sanctions are a part of the efforts to mount pressure on Iran, informed the US Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook. At the same time, for waivers, Iran must negotiate with the United States or manage economic collapse, warned Hook. The sanctions will take effect over the next two months.

However, Iran has dismissed the US proposal. Behrouz Kamalvandi, the Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), has said that the American efforts to stop the Iranian nuclear programme have gone in vain. Arak nuclear facility will continue to operate without paying any heed to the US sanctions. Over the last few weeks, the Trump administration appears to have intensified its anti-Iran stance. The aggressive change has taken place in the American position after some Iranian patrol boats dangerously chased US naval ships in the Persian Gulf. US President Trump has issued retaliatory orders to US Navy in case American naval ships come under any threat. Following it, with the new sanctions, the United States has dealt another jolt to an already sinking economy of Iran.