US Weighing Fresh Iran Sanctions
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Donald Trump's administration appeared poised to levy fresh sanctions on Iran Thursday, the first concrete evidence of the new president's tougher stance.
Hours after Trump and his national security advisor put Iran "on notice" over missile tests and support for Yemeni rebels, sources familiar with White House deliberations said new sanctions are in the works.
The sanctions are likely to be levied on individuals or entities linked to Iran's missile program and will be taken under existing presidential powers.
The measures are likely to replicate actions taken by Barack Obama's administration, which targeted firms and the Revolutionary Guard's missile command after previous tests.
Any move toward broader economic sanctions could risk Iran bolting from a high stakes nuclear deal, which saw Tehran freeze its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.
Trump has repeatedly trashed the agreement, but senior administration officials have indicated he will respect it, at least for now.
But Trump sounded a bellicose tone Thursday, refusing to rule out military action against Iran, saying "nothing is off the table."
Iran has rejected Trump's warnings as unfounded and "provocative".
The US recently raised alarm at the United Nations over Tehran's Sunday test-firing of a medium range missile.
The White House believes that is contravention of a UN Security Council resolution proscribing missiles that could carry a nuclear device.
Referring to the test, a senior administration official said "ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering a payload of at least 500 kilograms to a range of 300 kilometers are inherently capable of delivering nuclear weapons."
The latest sanctions are designed to show Iran a clean break from the Obama administration, which sought to limit friction.
As Iran has sought to wield its influence from Lebanon to Afghanistan, it has frequently butted up against US interests.
In Iraq, Syria and Yemen Iranian-backed militias have targeted US allies.
While the latest sanctions will not alter that dynamic, the White House is keen to put down a marker.
Aside from a desire for Trump to be seen as backing up his words with action, US officials are also concerned about future Iranian weapons tests.
Tehran is eyeing the development of a space launch vehicle, which, according to a senior administration official, "would be capable of an intercontinental ballistic missile range if it was configured in such a way."
03 February 2017, 08:54
122
What happen to the attack on Iran?
Now he pulls back to make sanctions instead, either attack or quit ranting about it.
03 February 2017, 18:03
02
Treasury sanctions Iran after ballistic missile launch
The new sanctions designate Abdollah Asgharzadeh, an Iranian businessman whom the Treasury Department accused of acting as a procurement agent for the ballistic missile program. It also singled out individuals within Asgharzadeh's network.
Other entities that were targeted Friday include trading networks associated with Iran's missile program and a network accused of providing cash transfers to Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based terror group.
03 February 2017, 18:03
03
17:37
مسؤولون أميركيون: القوات البحرية ترسل مدمرة بحرية لتتمركز قبالة السواحل اليمنية بالقرب من مضيق باب المندب.
03 February 2017, 10:22
26
the ayatollah’s senior political advisor has spoken !!!
a most FASCINATING analysis, to be honest..
some just speak to appear as if they are relevant..heck of a post..
photos? links? documentation? sources?
lol @flametroller thinks it's relevant.. it's okay, lets just entertain this illusion the poor thing has..
03 February 2017, 10:23
24
Iran is a peaceful country....it only have views on Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon....
03 February 2017, 10:49
24
I woke up today and decided to respect Mr. Flamethrower because he recognizes hot air when he breathes it.
03 February 2017, 12:49
04
hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!
Please read your comment again and tell me you cannot see wizardry, finesse, and political savvy. Some have tried to emulate you, Some tried to copy you while Others saw in you an inspiration.
My Nepalese domestic helper who is also a military analyst and a hot air balloon enthusiast in her native country totally agrees with your assessment.
Somesing Anazar flamesrower!
03 February 2017, 13:55
23
@realDonaldTrump
[Iran is playing with fire - they don't appreciate how "kind" President Obama was to them. Not me!]
03 February 2017, 14:04
41
trump promised to build a wall against Mexico; but nothing will happen.
trump threatened to invade Iran; but it remains as empty words.
trump missed with China; but later shut up for fear.
trump banned several pacific muslim countries while the dangerous ones not.
trump has many open fronts; but at this stage nobody takes them into account... and nobody cares.
03 February 2017, 14:09
51
for all the above reasons and the previous experience: such as Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Granada, Venezuela, etc. Usa is a useless country
03 February 2017, 14:52
04
Southern;
Aren't you ashamed of yourself wasting people's time, zero contribution, naive.
Poor!
‘Pity Of You’ Southern
You will be caught!
keep tuned on China!
03 February 2017, 14:57
05
"Usa is a useless country"
and where does mowaten and his aliases incorruptible/lqu7/report.man/flamethrower/theresistance4.0/outlawz live? USA
where does gigahabib/jcamerican and his aliases live? USA
where does nonabel/heroes and his aliases live? USA
where does awireless and his aliases live? USA
03 February 2017, 15:40
40
jewstin
you never get the point! America is the country of opportunities, no one can deny that fact... but its military actions and interventions, the experiences are to judge, Useless.
btw, the dragon is approaching!
03 February 2017, 15:55
03
so the USA is the land of opportunity for many of you on one hand and on the other you chant "Death to Amreeka".
Your case is frightening!
03 February 2017, 16:16
10
@texi, when people shout death to america, they don't say death to its people, because many american are against the policy of their own country....why don't you recognize that fact ya wahabi
03 February 2017, 16:31
10
really hard head, the system doesn't make a country a land of opportunity, but its people. Ufff
btw, people who comes form Europe, Japan and China among others, try to sort out you thought of your tiny brain.
03 February 2017, 16:40
10
did you take your dog for a walk today, they say that you always speak to him, what do tell him btw, Iran is this and Iran is that, no?? .... and does he bark at your when you repeat this again and again!!? poor @xasusa
03 February 2017, 16:45
10
Iran now is a land of opportunity too.
if not why the american administration is so worry about Iran movements, if it wasn't such advanced one, america wouldn't care, true no?... now back to sleep.
03 February 2017, 17:43
10
during 9/11 Saudi-led terrorist attack, all decent people condemn the attack including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Iran, which means that nobody wants any harm to the american people but to its administration and its policy poisoned by the zionist lobby.
this is to enforce my argument that when people chant 'Death' to America, they mean the policy and administration.
03 February 2017, 14:24
60
it's a question of being up-to-date, caring or not is another question, in this case doesn't apply.
03 February 2017, 14:36
50
despite your ignorance, Iran is there to help at the Iraqi request, ya wahabi lover.
03 February 2017, 15:03
04
texas, i now absolutely agree with you regarding these people like southern and mystic. They fabricated a lie about Trump wanting to invade Iran. Obviously, he never said and it will not happen. Since, it will not happen, they will then say he is a coward and was afraid of China and Russia and we told you so. Amazing!
