Trump puts sanctions back on Iran

Trump reimposes Iran nuclear deal sanctions, The Hill, BY REBECCA KHEEL , 6 Aug 18

The Trump administration announced Monday the reimposition of sanctions on Iran that were lifted as part of a nuclear agreement with the country.

The sanctions will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday and follow through on the order President Trump gave when he withdrew from the nuclear pact in May.

“The United States is fully committed to enforcing all of our sanctions, and we will work closely with nations conducting business with Iran to ensure complete compliance. Individuals or entities that fail to wind down activities with Iran risk severe consequences,” Trump said in a statement Monday……..

The sanctions that will come back into effect after midnight target transactions with U.S. dollar banknotes; trade in gold and precious metals; direct or indirect sales of graphite and metals such as steel and aluminum; certain transactions related to the Iranian rial; certain transactions related to issuing Iranian sovereign debt; and Iran’s automotive sector.

Additionally, authorizations will be revoked for the import of Iranian-origin carpets and foodstuff and the export of commercial aircraft.

The second wind-down period, which ends Nov. 4, will be the more significant one, as that is when sanctions on oil sales snap back. The senior administration official said that will have an “exponential effect” on Iran.

The reimposition of sanctions comes as protests have persisted across Iran, with demonstrators voicing dissatisfaction with a weak economy and financial corruption.

Meanwhile, the rial has lost half its value since April as the U.S. sanctions have loomed.

Administration officials touted both those developments Monday as a sign Trump’s Iran policy is working. But they pushed back on suggestions they are calling for the Iranian people to rise up against their government………

The sanctions reimposition also comes shortly after Trump threatened Iran.

After Iranian President Hassan Rouhani last month said that Americans “must understand that war with Iran is the mother of all wars and peace with Iran is the mother of all peace,” Trump issued a tweet telling Rouhani to “NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE.”

Last week, though, Trump said he’d be willing to meet with Iranian leaders without any preconditions. …….http://thehill.com/policy/defense/400525-trump-administration-reimposes-iran-nuclear-deal-sanctions?amp&__twitter_impression=true