Iran news in brief, March 29, 2019

Iran news in brief, March 29, 2019

1-U.S. Official to Press Iran Sanctions with Leaders in Malaysia, Singapore, India

A top U.S. sanctions official is in Asia to push efforts to increase pressure on Iran, saying Washington was intent on making Tehran "radioactive to the international community."

Sigal Mandelker, the U.S. Treasury under-secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in Singapore on March 29 that she would stress in further meetings this week with officials in Malaysia, Singapore, and India the risks involved in dealing with Tehran.

Mandelker said: "This trip follows on the heels of additional intense pressure we have placed on Iran."

2-Syria, Opposition Says Israeli Airstrikes Hit Iran Targets Near Aleppo, 7 Killed

A Syrian war monitoring group says an Israeli airstrike the night before killed seven Iranian and Iranian-backed fighters in northern Syria.

The explosions caused an electricity blackout in Aleppo, as opposition sources said that an ammunition depot and a logistics hub used by Iran-supported militias were hit.

Another strike hit a target near Nairab military airport also said to be used by Iranian forces.

3-Iran's Exports, Imports Decline, With U.S. Trade Lowest Since 2000

Iran's trade generally declined in the first two months of 2019, largely due to less oil exports and a substantial reduction in imports, due to its ongoing economic crisis.

Iran’s exports to U.S. reached zero during January 2019, while its imports from the United States plunged to $4.5 million, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, released March 28.

The monthly trade turnover between the two countries stood at the lowest level since 2000.

U.S. withdrew from the Iran nuclear agreement in May 2018 and imposed sanctions on Iran in the second half of the year. During mid-2018, Iran’s imports from U.S. soared, but declined in December.

4- UN Security council adopted the resolution against funding terrorism.

During the UN Security Council’s session on Thursday, March 28, a resolution was adopted against funding and money transfer for terrorism.  The acting U.S ambassador in the U.N said that this resolution is a perfect apparatus to stop financing groups such as Hezbollah.

According to the press release by the U.S mission to the United Nations, Jonathan Cohen, the acting U.S ambassador, said that after adopting this resolution, “we cannot allow terrorist groups such as Hezbollah to be one step ahead of monetary control system. The adopted resolution in SC, allows us to confront any funding of groups such as the Hezbollah and ISIS”

The resolution urges all the countries to review their domestic laws to insure that financing terrorism will be prosecuted and face heavy punishments.

5-Department of State: The Iranian regime is feeling the pain from our maximum pressure campaign.

The U.S department of state said that the Iranian regime is feeling the pain from their maximum pressure campaign.

In a tweet on Thursday night, the U.S department of State, by referring to the new list added to the U.S sanctions against Iran,  said the U.S Treasury Department tightened the screws even further by sanctioning a network of front companies used by Iran to evade sanctions and fund terrorism.

The State Department also added in its tweet that the U.S won’t relent and the pressure will only grow.