The US has defied criticism from allies to announce the reimposition of sanctions against Iran, promising swift punishment to anyone who tried to violate them.
Saturday’s announcement of the so-called “snapback” on sanctions, which was announced last month, also drew a sharp rebuke from Tehran, which called on the rest of the world to unite against US “reckless actions”.
“Today, the United States welcomes the return of virtually all previously terminated UN sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.
He said the measures were back in effect from 8 pm Washington time.
The Trump administration also promised to “impose consequences” on any UN member state which does not comply with the measures.
The sanctions in question were lifted in 2015 when Iran signed on to an international agreement not to seek to build nuclear weapons.
But President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the landmark accord in 2018, saying the deal, negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama, was insufficient. He then renewed and even strengthened Washington’s own sanctions.
At the moment, the US is insisting it is still a participant in the agreement that it stormed out of, but only so it can activate the snapback option, which it announced on 20 August.
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