Trump Administration Renews Sanctions on Iran
The Trump administration has chosen to renew sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran. President Donald Trump and National Security Advisor John Bolton hope that these measures will ultimately lead the Iranians to abandon their nuclear program and end alleged support of terrorist organizations in the region. These are just the latest actions taken by the United States government against Iran, which has been viewed as a threat to U.S. interests and the Middle East. In May 2018, President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the nuclear deal negotiated by President Barack Obama over concerns that Iran was not in full compliance with the terms of the agreement. In August 2018, the U.S. launched a wave of sanctions against Iranian officials, institutions, and products, as a precursor to the sanctions that were placed on Iran on November 5.
The newest sanctions are considered the strongest and most expanded sanctions ever placed on Iran, with over 700 individuals, government institutions, companies, and products being severely impacted. Although the vast majority of these sanctions will affect Iran’s energy industry, other measures will target banks that complete Iranian financial transactions, shipping companies, insurance companies, and U.S.-based or operated companies that have business relations in Iran.
Reactions to the Trump administration’s actions have been mixed throughout the region. For example, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia did not comment directly on the sanctions themselves but did comment on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s refusal to accept a law that would have prevented the financing of terrorist organizations. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates announced that it would gradually reduce its oil output to five million barrels a day by 2030, an announcement that is believed to have been made as a result of the sanctions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that these sanctions would “contribute to stability, security, and peace.”
However, according to Qatari state-run news organization Al Jazeera, Qatar was critical of the sanctions. Similarly, Iranian allies in Syria and Hezbollah condemned the sanctions, saying that they are counterproductive and harmful to Iranian citizens. Notably, the European Union has also taken issue with the sanctions, calling them counterproductive. The EU is still party to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement. If Iran decides to pursue further negotiation, the focus of those talks could be any number of issues, including the country’s nuclear program, its alleged support of terrorist organizations, or its reported human rights violations.