The Trump administration on 18th July 2017 unveiled new economic sanctions against Iran over its ballistic missile program and for contributing to regional tensions.
This comes one day after warning Tehran that it was not following the spirit of its nuclear agreement with world powers.
The US Department of Treasury, in a statement, said it was targeting 16 entities and individuals for supporting what is said was “illicit Iranian actors or transnational criminal activity.”
Those sanctioned had backed Iran’s military or Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by developing drones and military equipment, producing and maintaining boats, and procuring electronic components, the U.S. said.
Others have also ‘orchestrated the theft of US and Western software programs’ sold to Iran’s government, the Treasury Department said.
The US State Department had also designated two Iranian organizations involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program, according to the Treasury Department.
2015 Nuclear Deal: Know More- The 2015 Nuclear Deal was a preliminary framework agreement signed between Iran and P5+1 countries (United States, United Kingdom, Russia, France, China- plus Germany) and the European Union in July 2015.
- The deal is also called as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) or Vienna agreement.
- The deal aims to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon in return for lifting international oil and financial sanctions.
- Under it, Iran has agreed to give up its most advanced centrifuges and use only its oldest models.
- But it still allows Iran to continue enrichment in lower quantities for civilian purposes such as power plants. As part of the deal Iran has agreed to reduce its stockpile of uranium by 98%.
- Under this deal, Iran could keep 300 kg enriched uranium for the next 15 years and it will get rid of extra uranium by shipping it to Russia.
