U.S. extends sanctions relief under Iran nuke deal

By Azernews

By Kamila Aliyeva

U.S. President Donald Trump on May 17 extended sanctions relief for Iran according to nuclear deal even as he imposed narrow penalties on Iranian and Chinese figures for supporting Iran's ballistic missile program.

Although Trump continued ex-president Barack Obama’s pact, which he has long been criticizing and ordered to review the deal, the U.S. has a tough position towards Islamic Republic.

"We inform that the United States continues to waive sanctions as required to continue implementing U.S. sanctions-lifting commitments in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action," Assistant to the Secretary of State Stuart Jones said.

At the same time, the U.S. retains sanctions against Iran on the missile program, human rights and on suspicion that Tehran sponsors terrorism.

Trump imposed new penalties on seven Iranian and Chinese people and companies regarding the Islamic Republic’s ballistic missile program.

Meanwhile, Tehran underlined that it will not stop its missile program despite a new round of sanctions.

Iran will continue its missile program in line with its “inalienable and legal right” to upgrade the country’s defensive capabilities, according to Islamic Republic’s foreign ministry.

The Iranian foreign ministry statement underlined that the Islamic Republic’s missile program does not violate any of Iran’s international commitments as well as the 2231 resolution of UN.

As a counter-measure to new U.S. sanctions, the Islamic Republic imposed sanctions on nine U.S. companies and individuals for “human rights violations” through direct or indirect cooperation Israel in committing “crimes against humanity or other terror acts,” participation and assistance in supporting terrorist groups in the region and repression of people in the Middle East and participation in acts against the national security of Iran, the Iranian foreign ministry statement said.

The nuclear deal was negotiated in July 2015 between Iran, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany. By ratifying the plan, Iran agreed to scale down its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.