The United States is imposing sweeping new sanctions on Iran to curb Tehran’s nuclear, missile, and conventional arms threats after Washington asserted the United Nations arms embargo on Iran was reimposed indefinitely late Saturday.
White House National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is imposing new sanctions and export control measures on 27 entities and individuals connected to Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
A White House executive order lays out plans to block the property of individuals involved in transferring arms materials and military equipment to and from Iran. The State Department and Treasury Department also outline how foreign individuals and businesses will be penalized for violations.
Iran’s Defense Industries Organization (DIO) and its director, Mehrdad Akhlaghi-Ketabchi, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro are among those being sanctioned.
“For nearly two years, corrupt officials in Tehran have worked with the illegitimate regime in Venezuela to flout the U.N. arms embargo. Our actions today are a warning that should be heard worldwide. No matter who you are, if you violate the U.N. arms embargo on Iran, you risk sanctions,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, alongside other top U.S. officials from Trump’s national security team, during a Monday press briefing at the State Department. (VOA)