Trump's Administration Pressures Iran with New Sanctions

Hours ago, the United States imposed sanctions on companies which do business with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and on three other entities over conventional arms proliferation.

The new decisions are the latest in a series of measures aimed at placing more pressure on Tehran in the final days of President Donald Trump's administration, which ends on Wednesday.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington had sanctioned seven companies, including Chinese-based Jiangyin Mascot Special Steel Co and UAE-based Accenture Building Materials, and two people for shipping steel to or from Iran.

He added that Iran's Marine Industries Organization, Aerospace Industries Organization and the Iran Aviation Industries Organization had also been blacklisted over conventional arms proliferation.

In a statement later on Friday, Pompeo said he was also increasing the scope of metals-related sanctions against Tehran administered by the State Department.

"Those who knowingly transfer 15 materials which the State Department says are used in connection with Tehran's nuclear, military or ballistic missile programs, including certain types of aluminum and steel, would be subject to sanctions," he explained.

In 2018, Trump quit a nuclear deal, which Tehran inked with world powers in 2015 to rein in its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. Democratic President-elect Joe Biden, who will succeed Trump on Wednesday, has said he will return to the 2015 nuclear pact if Tehran resumes strict compliance with it.