Dispute over nuclear agreements: New US sanctions against Iran came into force

Despite international protests, the US has put the toughest economic sanctions against Iran into force. The punitive measures apply since 6 am CET. Above all, they are to hit the oil, banking and financial sectors as well as the transport sector with the important ports.

The US wants to force Iran to renegotiate the nuclear agreement of 2015 and to agree to stricter conditions. In addition, the leadership in Tehran should make concessions in foreign policy. Iran accuses the US government of bringing the country to its knees in order to bring about a change of government.

Starting this Monday, Washington wants to severely punish companies that do not bow to unilaterally imposed sanctions. Particularly deterrent is the fact that such companies will no longer have access to the US financial system and thus can not handle transactions in US dollars. Also affected are German companies with interests in Iran.

Thousands of Iranians protest against the USA

On Sunday, tens of thousands of people in Iran had demonstrated at state-organized rallies against the United States. In Tehran, demonstrators burned symbolic US flags and dollar bills. Many held posters in which they mocked US President Donald Trump.

Tasnim News Agency / REUTERS

Anti-US protests in Tehran

Trump had implemented one of his key election promises on May 8 by single-handedly revoking the international nuclear agreement. The nuclear agreement, which includes China, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Russia, is considered one of the most important but controversial international agreements. In it, the international community commits itself to waive sanctions against the Islamic Republic. In return, Iran should inter alia largely omit the enrichment of uranium, so that the production of weapons-grade nuclear material is excluded.

more on the subject

Oil and banking sector targetedTrump's new Iran sanctions are a tightrope walk

The International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA has always certified Iran to fulfill its obligations. Trump justified the exit among other things with the fact that the promise made by Iran not to continue to work on the development of nuclear weapons is a lie. Another accusation is that Iran pursues a policy of destabilization in the Middle East and is the biggest financier of terrorism.

The sanctions are therefore aimed primarily at the Iranian oil industry, which is the country's largest source of income (read more here). However, according to media reports Washington wants to temporarily apply a derogation to oil imports for some states. This is to apply to the four largest importers of Iranian oil, that is China, India, South Korea and Turkey. For the Europeans, the US will make no exception, as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday.

. @ SecPompeo: "The sanctions that will be reimposed tomorrow are the toughest sanctions ever put in place on the Islamic Republic of Iran." #FNS https://t.co/iSva7Bq1bN pic.twitter.com/IUEOA81lUM

In order to maintain at least part of its economic relations with Iran, EU countries are working on a special purpose vehicle to facilitate the payment of Iranian business if private banks refuse to pay due to imminent US penalties. The special purpose vehicle could, for example, enable barter transactions in which no money flows. When she can start her work is still unclear. EU circles said that there were difficult technical, legal and political issues to resolve.

Oliver Contreras / POOL / EPA-EFE / REX / Shutterstock

Mike Pompeo and Donald Trump

Iran has so far ruled out, bowing to US pressure. The Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the sanctions of recent decades have only made Iran more independent and independent. The former spokesman for Iran's nuclear negotiator, Sejed Hossein Mussawian, told the German press agency that the US's ultimate goal is a change of government in Iran. However, Washington has not achieved a revolution in Tehran for about four decades.

The US government denies having a "regime change" in mind, saying instead that it wants to enforce a "change in behavior" of the Iranian leadership.

Video: My vacation in Iran

Video

dbate.de