US imposes new sanctions on Iran two months after Trump leaves
Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi is among the personalities sanctioned by the United States on Wednesday.
Here, during a speech in Tehran, February 23, 2016 © Raheb Homavandi, REUTERS
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3 min
Two months from the end of Donald Trump's mandate, Washington on Wednesday, November 18 took new sanctions against Iran, targeting the Minister of Intelligence, but also the Bonyad Mostazafan foundation, managing the funds of the former Royal family.
A few hours earlier, Tehran, however, declared that it was prepared to return "automatically" to respecting its nuclear commitments if the future Biden administration lifted the sanctions.
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Washington maintains its "
maximum pressure
" policy.
US President Donald Trump and his administration have sanctioned dozens of Iranian individuals or entities.
Among them, Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi, targeted for his "
key role in the brutal human rights violations committed by the Iranian regime against the Iranian people
", details this press release, alluding to
the repression of anti-government demonstrations November 2019
.
The Foundation for the Disowned, an institution which manages the property of the former royal family and those close to it seized after the Islamic revolution of 1979, is also sanctioned.
Controlled by Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei, this foundation has, over time, evolved into a gigantic conglomerate holding stakes in many key sectors of the Iranian economy (construction, oil, mining, etc.).
The Trump administration is also targeting 50 of its subsidiaries "
in key sectors like energy, mining, logistics, information technology, and financial services, which account for a large share of the billions of dollars in the world. 'economic empire
' of the foundation.
"
The Iranian Supreme Leader is using Bonyad Mostazafan to reward his allies under the pretext of charity,
" US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.
Also targeted is Parviz Fattah, former Minister of Energy who heads the foundation.
An “
automatic
” return
to nuclear commitments against the end of sanctions
These sanctions are taken on the day when Iran has indicated that it would be prepared to return "
automatically
" to
full compliance with its nuclear commitments
.
This if the future government of Joe Biden, to succeed Donald Trump on January 20, lifted the sanctions imposed by Washington against Tehran since 2018.
In recent months, the Trump administration has stepped
up sanctions against Iran
.
Some experts wonder if the Republican president would
not practice "
the policy of the scorched earth
",
to make the job of his successor more difficult.
This while
the
stormy
transfer of power
between Donald Trump and Joe Biden is already asking questions about their future.
The
New York Times
daily
reported Monday, November 16, that the US president last Thursday asked his advisers to present him with options for carrying out an attack on Iran's main nuclear site.
However, he would have finally given up on this radical option.
►Also listen
:
United States: "On many subjects, Donald Trump will practice the scorched earth policy"
(With AFP and Reuters)
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