Washington announced on Friday that it imposed new sanctions upon Iran including 8 individuals, 6 oil tankers and 20 companies, banks and financial institutions.
US Treasury claims new sanctions are "targeting Iran’s missile and nuclear programs, sanctions evasion efforts, and support for terrorism."
The new round of sanctions comes just ahead of next round of Iran nuclear talks after they extended Joint Plan of Action until late November. According to JPOI the United States had agreed not to impose new sanctions against Iran and to ease nuclear-related sanctions. While new sanctions include Iran's nuclear program, American authorities claim the list of new taregts is in line with previous sanctions before Geneva deal. Tehran has always emphasized its nuclear program is peaceful.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU’s foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton are scheduled to meet in Brussels on September 1 to talk on ways to reach a comprehensive nuclear deal.
Also Iran nuclear negotiators and EU3/U3 members are scheduled to negotiate on Tehran nuclear program on the sidelines of UN General Assembly in New York which kicks off on September 16.
There are hopes to clinch a comprehensive nuclear deal before the November 2014 deadline; “if the western side shows goodwill” said an Iranian senior negotiator.
ZK/HRGH
MNA
END