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Iran is not concerned about reimposed U.S. sanctions and will not yield to pressure to change its policies, a senior Iranian official said on Monday.
"These sanctions are not new ... We are familiar with America's sanctions. We are not concerned about these sanctions and will not yield to the pressure," said the official, who asked not to be named.
The United States has granted exemptions to eight countries allowing them to temporarily continue buying Iranian oil, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday, as Washington reimposed sanctions on Iran's banking, energy and shipping industries.Some of the eight countries - China, India, Greece, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, Turkey and South Korea - include OPEC member Iran's top customers.Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said each ocountry “has already demonstrated significant reductions of the purchase of Iranian crude over the past six months," adding two of the eight have reduced imports of Iranian crude to zero.Iran's Zarif says sanctions 'backfiring,' isolating US"We continue negotiations to get all of the nations to zero," he said.Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnunchin jointly announced the new economic penalties the Trump administration claims are the "largest ever single-day action targeting the Iranian regime."In addition to Iran's oil sector the measures target the country's shipping, shipbuilding and banking sectors.Over 700 individuals, entities, aircraft, and vessels were blacklisted, including 50 Iranian banks and their domestic and foreign subsidiaries.Britain regrets imposition of US sanctions on Iran: PM May's spokesmanGermany says legal business relations with Iran should be possibleNetanyahu says Trump made courageous decision on US sanctions on IranSwiss talk with US, Iran about humanitarian payment channel for food, drugs
US grants temporary Iran oil waivers to eight countries including Turkey: Pompeo
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday that new U.S. sanctions were "backfiring", making Washington more isolated, not the Islamic Republic."Today, US defied UN top court and Security Council by reimposing sanctions on Iran that target ordinary people. But US bullying is backfiring... The US — and not Iran — is isolated." Zarif said in a tweet. Germany says legal business relations with Iran should be possibleIsrael thanks Trump for Iran sanctionsSwiss talk with US, Iran about humanitarian payment channel for food, drugsIran says it will defy 'economic war' as US reimposes sanctions
Iran's Zarif says sanctions 'backfiring,' isolating US
Britain said on Monday it regretted a U.S. decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran."We regret the reimposition of sanctions by the U.S. We continue to believe that the Iran nuclear deal makes the world a safer place and our position remains that as long as Iran continues to meet its obligations under the deal by respecting strict limits on its nuclear activity, we will be committed to it too," Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said."As such we continue to fully support expanding our trade relationship with Iran and encourage UK businesses to take advantage of commercial opportunities that arise."The U.S. has restored sanctions lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by the administration of President Barack Obama and five other world powers. It added 300 new designations in Iran's oil, shipping, insurance and banking sectors. Germany says legal business relations with Iran should be possibleIsrael thanks Trump for Iran sanctionsSwiss talk with US, Iran about humanitarian payment channel for food, drugs
Britain regrets imposition of US sanctions on Iran: PM May's spokesman
Germany is convinced that it should enable legal business relations with Iran and is checking how to protect companies affected by sanctions reimposed on Iran by Washington, a government spokesman said on Monday."We are assessing how we will be able to protect the basis of our business engagements there," government spokesman Steffen Seibert said.Israel thanks Trump for Iran sanctionsSwiss talk with US, Iran about humanitarian payment channel for food, drugsIran says it will defy 'economic war' as US reimposes sanctions
Germany says legal business relations with Iran should be possible
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed on Monday what he called U.S. President Donald Trump's courageous decision in reimposing U.S. sanctions on Iran."This day is an historic day," Netanyahu said in public remarks to legislators from his right-wing Likud party."I would like to again thank U.S. President Donald Trump for the courageous, determined and important decision. I think this contributes to stability and security and peace."On Monday, the U.S. administration reinstated all sanctions removed on Iran following a 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran. The sanctions target Iran’s oil exports, shipping and banks - all core parts of the Iranian economy.Egyptian delegation leaves Gaza after truce talksIsraeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman also thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for imposing sanctions on Iran."President (Donald) Trump's bold decision is the sea-change the Middle East has been waiting for," Lieberman said in a statement on Monday."In a single move, the United States is dealing a critical blow to Iran's entrenchment in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq and Yemen. President Trump, you've done it again! Thank you," he said.Iran's Zarif says sanctions 'backfiring,' isolating USThe U.S. is seeking to "alter" Iranian behavior with the sanctions, and has been leaking out a stream of 12 demands it wants to see Iran agree to in exchange for re-lifting the economic penalties.The U.S. expects to have reduced Iranian oil exports by more than 1 million barrels even before Monday's tranche of economic penalties, which the U.S. has long warned were incoming.All of the other signatories -- China, the European Union, France, Germany, Iran, Russia and the United Kingdom -- have remained in the nuclear deal despite the U.S. withdrawal.The accord provided Iran with billions of dollars in relief from international sanctions in exchange for sweeping curbs on and inspections of its nuclear program.Britain regrets imposition of US sanctions on Iran: PM May's spokesmanGermany says legal business relations with Iran should be possibleSwiss talk with US, Iran about humanitarian payment channel for food, drugs
Netanyahu says Trump made courageous decision on US sanctions on Iran