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United States has asked Iran to immediately release detained Korean vessels, and today (6th) even announced additional economic sanctions.



It blocked the steel industry, Iran's main source of income, and how it will affect the negotiations between us and Iran, Correspondent Kim Jong-won from New York said.



<Reporter> The



US Treasury and State Department blacklisted 17 companies, including 12 Iranian steel and metal manufacturers, as well as one Chinese company that supplies the core materials needed to produce steel.



In a statement, the US Treasury Department said the Trump administration is blocking imports from the Iranian regime because Iran supports terrorists and continues to stick to weapons of mass destruction.



He said he would block the steel sector, one of the Iranian regime's main sources of revenue, and tighten the fund.



There are also observations that Iran's isolation will intensify as four Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, agreed to restore diplomatic relations with Qatar, which had been cut off for more than three years through US arbitration.



Some are concerned that Trump's imposing additional sanctions without any discussion with Biden-elect could provoke Iran and lead to another conflict.



[Tom Nichols/Professor of National Security at the U.S. Naval University: President Trump seems to think he can put a heavy burden on the next Biden-elect by imposing similar sanctions against Iran for military operations on his way out of office.

Donald Trump isn't the one who thinks deeply about these issues.]



Right now, Iranian President Hassan Rohany urged the United States to make up for mistakes in the past, and Iran's Atomic Energy Agency spokesman Kamalbandi said Iran could enrich uranium to 60%. He said he had the ability to do it and pressed him.



As tensions between the United States and Iran are heightening due to the additional sanctions by the United States, it is predicted that the Korean government's negotiations regarding captured ships may become more difficult.



(Video coverage: Lee Sang-wook, video editing: Kim Ho-jin)  



▶ The delegation will leave Korea soon

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