US Working on New Iran Sanctions, Pompeo Says
The U.S. plans to impose new sanctions on Iran in the “coming weeks and months,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, warning of the “dangerous” consequences if the restrictions are lifted. In a Nov. 18 statement, Pompeo touted the U.S. sanctions regime against Iran and called on other countries to not give in to Iranian demands for sanctions relief.
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“Reducing that pressure is a dangerous choice, bound to weaken new partnerships for peace in the region and strengthen only the Islamic Republic,” Pompeo said. “The 'maximum pressure' campaign is working, sanctions will continue, and the United States will not hesitate to impose painful consequences on those who engage in sanctionable activity.” Pompeo said the U.S. will soon impose new sanctions using U.S. “nuclear, counterterrorism, and human rights authorities.”
Although the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions has been disputed by sanctions experts and former officials (see 1909300054, 1912180027, 1908010020 and 1908050014), Pompeo said the U.S. measures have been “extraordinarily effective.” He pointed to Iran’s suffering economy, rising inflation, cuts to its military and its steep drop in oil exports. “The regime’s greatest fear is that sanctions will remain,” Pompeo said. Experts believe the incoming Biden administration may reverse some U.S. sanctions against Iran (see 2010160039).