US announces new sanctions against Iran following negotiations

The U.S. Department of State has announced new sanctions against Iran following negotiations held this Friday between representatives of both countries in Oman. The department’s statement indicates that the new measures are introduced because “the Iranian government has prioritized its destabilizing behavior over the safety and protection of its own citizens.”

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The new measures affect 15 entities that have traded in crude oil of Iranian origin, 14 commercial vessels and 2 people related to Iranian oil exports. “The United States will continue to act against the network of transporters and traders involved in the transport and acquisition of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and petrochemical products, which constitute the main source of income for the regime,” added the department’s publication.

New round of negotiations

The delegations of the United States and Iran ended this Friday the first day of indirect contacts, which lasted several hours. It is not ruled out that these will resume in the coming days, Iranian state media reports. The talks are taking place in a context of strong bilateral tensions and threats of new military actions by the US president. The head of the Iranian delegation, the country’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, declared after the negotiations that the prerequisite for any dialogue with the United States is that Washington cease threats and pressure against Tehran. “Today we have explicitly raised this and we hope that it will be strictly respected so that the talks can continue“, added the minister.