TEHRAN – Iran responded to the latest round of US sanctions against Tehranand said that the move showed that the US was running out of options.
The US already maintains sweeping sanctions on Iran including on itscentral bank, with anyone who deals with it subject to prosecution, due toTehran’s alleged nuclear programme.
But the new sanctions on Friday were imposed for the additional reason of“terrorism”, Treasury said, adding that Iran’s central bank had provided“billions of dollars” to two groups blacklisted by the US.
“Treasury’s action targets a crucial funding mechanism that the Iranianregime uses to support its terrorist network, including the Qods Force,Hezbollah and other militants that spread terror and destabilise theregion,” said US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
The Qods Force conducts international operations for Iran’s eliteRevolutionary Guards, while Hezbollah, the Shia militant group andpolitical party in Lebanon, is among Iran’s closest regional partners.
Iran responded that the move showed that the US was running out of options.
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Washington also imposed sanctions on Iran’s sovereign wealth fund, whoseboard of trustees includes President Hassan Rouhani, as well as EtemadTejarate Pars, a company that the Treasury Department said had sent moneyinternationally on behalf of Iran’s defence ministry.
Trump recently said that he hopes for talks with Rouhani, who respondedthat Trump must first ease sanctions.
Last year Trump pulled out of a nuclear accord with Iran negotiated underformer president Barack Obama, sending tensions soaring as he tried to stopall countries from buying Iran’s oil. -APP/AFP
