US ramps up pressure on Iran with fresh sanctions
- Europe’s bid to arrange Trump-Rouhani meet flounders
- US imposes sanctions on Chinese companies for Iran oil imports
The United States yesterday announced new sanctions to stop Iran from selling its oil, casting a cloud over last-minute European efforts to arrange a tension-reducing encounter between the adversaries’ presidents.
French President Emmanuel Macron shuttled between his US and Iranian counterparts over two days at the United Nations, but acknowledged that time was running short.
On US President Donald Trump’s last scheduled day at the annual UN summit of world leaders, his administration said it was imposing sanctions on Chinese companies that have purchased Iranian oil.
“We’re telling China, and all nations -- know that we will sanction every violation of sanctions of all activity,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a pressure group opposed to Iran’s clerical regime on the sidelines of the United Nations.
China, which is embroiled in a series of disputes with the United States including a trade war, is believed to be the biggest foreign buyer of Iranian oil.
The Trump administration in May said that the United States would unilaterally force all countries to stop buying Iran’s oil, its major export, sending tensions soaring.
European powers, while criticizing Iran for its regional destabilizing activities, believe that diplomacy is the best way forward.
“The conditions have been met for a rapid resumption of negotiations,” Macron told reporters late Tuesday. “It is now up to Iran and the United States to seize the opportunity,” he said.
Escorting a smiling Rouhani to a meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Macron said that time was running short.
“If he leaves the country without meeting with President Trump, honestly this is a lost opportunity because he will not come back in a few months,” Macron said.
“And President Trump will not go to Tehran, so they have to meet now,” he said, as Johnson voiced agreement.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas yesterday said he had not given up hope.
Comments