The United States has reimposed sanctions on Iran over its “continued nuclear escalation”

The United States on Thursday imposed new sanctions against Iran in response to “continued nuclear escalation,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

“Over the last month, Iran has announced steps to continue expanding its nuclear program in a way that serves no credible peaceful purpose,” Blinken said.

He added: “Iran’s actions to increase its enrichment capacity are even more concerning in light of Iran’s continued lack of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and statements by Iranian officials suggesting possible changes in Iran’s nuclear doctrine.

Thursday’s move imposes sanctions on three UAE-based companies that the United States accuses of involvement in transporting Iranian oil or petrochemical products and blocked 11 vessels linked to those companies.

The three sanctioned companies are Sea Route Ship Management FZE, Almanac Ship Management LLC and Al Anchor Ship Management FZE. As a result of the sanctions, any property and assets held by these individuals or companies in the United States are blocked, and Americans are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

“We remain committed to never allowing Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon and are willing to use all elements of national power to ensure that outcome. (…) Iran must cease its escalations regarding its nuclear program, as well as its other destabilizing actions,” Blinken concluded in his statement.

Earlier this month, the Group of Seven (G7) rich countries warned Iran against advancing its nuclear enrichment program and said it would be willing to take further steps if Tehran transferred ballistic missiles to Russia.

Iran rejected the statement and called on the G7 to distance itself from “destructive policies of the past,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said.

In early June, the 35-nation Board of Governors of the UN nuclear watchdog passed a resolution calling on Iran to step up its cooperation with the agency and reverse its recent blockade of inspectors.

Iran is enriching uranium to 60% purity, close to 90% weapons-grade, and has enough enriched material to that level, if further enriched, for three nuclear weapons, according to criteria from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Western powers say there is no credible civilian reason for this.

Iran claims its aims are entirely peaceful, but has recently declared that it could change its “nuclear doctrine” if it were attacked or its existence threatened by Israel. This has caused alarm at the IAEA and in Western capitals. Source: Infobae

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