The US has imposed new sanctions targeting Iran’s Oil Minister and vessels involved in oil exports, following a letter from President Trump warning against Iranian actions. The sanctions form part of a broader strategy of maximum pressure, which has escalated under the current administration. Iran’s leaders dismissed US negotiation offers, citing distrust from past experiences with sanctions and agreements.
The US Treasury Department has imposed new sanctions on Iran, targeting Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad and several vessels involved in Iranian crude oil exports. This action occurred shortly after a letter from President Trump, delivered through UAE’s diplomatic adviser, expressed concerns over Iran’s activities.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the sanctions designating Paknejad and three entities tied to oil trade in China, in addition to blocking specific ships used for transactions, including the Hong Kong-flagged Peace Hill and several others. Paknejad plays a crucial role in overseeing significant Iranian oil exports and allocations to the military.
These sanctions are part of President Trump’s broader “maximum pressure” strategy on Iran, a policy that has intensified since the administration’s inception. This follows a history of sanctions imposed due to Iran’s nuclear program and other concerns.
The sanctions came after warnings of potential military action against Iran. Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei dismissed US negotiation offers as deceptive, arguing that Trump’s previous withdrawal from the nuclear deal makes dialogue futile. He criticized the US position and raised concerns over future agreements, asserting any new talks would not result in sanctions being lifted.
Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized the pointlessness of negotiations when the US has a history of non-compliance, referring to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) which the US abandoned in 2018. He stated that past negotiations were rendered meaningless by Trump’s actions, and expressed that engaging with the current US administration would only tighten existing sanctions.
The recent sanctions imposed by the US on Iran highlight a continuation of the maximum pressure strategy aimed at limiting Iran’s oil exports and military funding. The Iranian leadership’s rejection of potential negotiations reflects deep-seated distrust due to past actions by the US, particularly Trump’s withdrawal from the JCPOA. This ongoing tension indicates that diplomatic efforts are challenged by historical apprehensions and strategic interests.
Original Source: www.presstv.ir
