Iran news in brief, May 9, 2019

Iran news in brief, May 9, 2019

U.S. Imposes Sanctions Targeting Metal Sectors of Iran Regime

The United States on Wednesday imposed fresh sanctions targeting the Iranian regime's steel, iron, aluminum and copper sectors.

President Trump said in the order released Wednesday:  "It remains the policy of the United States to deny Iran all paths to both a nuclear weapon and intercontinental ballistic missiles, and to counter the totality of Iran's malign influence in the Middle East,".

"It is also the policy of the United States to deny the Iranian government revenue, including revenue derived from the export of products from Iran's iron, steel, aluminum, and copper sectors, that may be used to provide funding and support for the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorist groups and networks, campaigns of regional aggression, and military expansion."

European Powers Reject Iran Regime 'Ultimatums' on Nuclear Deal

European powers said Thursday that they still backed the nuclear deal with Iran Regime, but rejected any “ultimatums” from Tehran to keep it alive.

“We reject any ultimatums and we will assess Iran’s compliance on the basis of Iran’s performance regarding its nuclear-related commitments” under a 2015 deal, the EU’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany said in a statement.

Pompeo Statement on Iran Regime Portrays Close Coordination With Europe

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement on May 8, listing the U.S. administration’s successes in putting pressure on Iran Regime and insisting that Washington remains committed to block Iran’s “paths to a nuclear weapon”.

Pompeo did not shy away from describing U.S. policy as a “maximum pressure” approach to Iran, highlighting efforts to block Tehran’s oil sales and implementing other sanctions.

The secretary of state also portrayed a picture of close cooperation with European allies in countering Iran. He had displayed the same approach earlier in a joint press conference with his British counterpart Jeremy Hunt.

US Official Urges GCC Unity to Combat 'Threat Posed by Iran Regime'

The chairman of the US house for foreign affairs committee has called for Gulf countries to work together to contain what he describes as the "threat posed by Iran Regime".

Eliot Engel said on Wednesday:  "The United States and its Gulf partners share economic opportunities, anti-terrorism concerns and can be working together to counter the threat posed by Iran,".

U.S. Warns European Businesses Against Using Iran-EU Trade Mechanism

The United States on May 8 warned European banks, investors and businesses against engaging with the so-called special purpose vehicle called INSTEX, a Europe-backed system to facilitate non-dollar trade with Iran Regime and circumvent U.S. sanctions.

Tim Morrison, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Weapons of Mass Destruction and Biodefense told a conference: "If you are a bank, an investor, an insurer or other business in Europe you should know that getting involved in the … Special Purpose Vehicle is a very poor business decision,"

He has also called Iran's move to scale back some curbs to its program "nothing less than nuclear blackmail of Europe".

Morrison also said the United States is planning to impose further sanctions on Iran 'very soon'.

UK Says Iran Regime Will Face Consequences If It Breaks Nuclear Deal

Britain said Iran Regime would face consequences if it backed away from its nuclear deal, following Tehran’s announcement on Wednesday that it was scaling back curbs to its nuclear program that had been agreed under a 2015 deal with world powers.

junior foreign office minister Mark Field told Britain’s parliament: “Should Iran cease meeting its nuclear commitments, there would, of course, be consequences,”