US ratchets up pressure on Iran with resumption of sanctions

Rouhani says Iran to sell oil, break US sanctions

Iran will sell its oil and break sanctions reimposed by the United States on its vital energy and banking sectors, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told economists at a meeting broadcast live on state television on Monday."America wanted to cut to zero Iran's oil sales ... but we will continue to sell our oil ... to break sanctions," Rouhani said.The United States said on Friday it will temporarily allow eight importers to keep buying Iranian oil when it re-imposes sanctions on Monday aimed at forcing Tehran to curb its nuclear, missile and regional activities.China, India, South Korea, Japan and Turkey - all top importers of Iranian oil - are among eight countries expected to be given temporary exemptions from the sanctions to ensure crude oil prices are not destabilised.US resumes all pre-nuclear deal sanctions on IranThe restoration of sanctions is part of a wider effort by U.S. President Donald Trump to force Iran to curb its nuclear and missile programs as well as its support for proxy forces in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East."Today the enemy (the United States) is targeting our economy ... the main target of sanctions is our people," Rouhani said.In May, Trump exited Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with six powers and Washington reimposed first round of sanctions on Iran in August.The deal saw most international financial and economic sanctions on Iran lifted in return for Tehran curbing its disputed nuclear activity under U.N. surveillance.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday the penalties set to return on Monday "are the toughest sanctions ever put in place on the Islamic Republic of Iran."However, Iran's clerical rulers have dismissed concerns about the impact of sanctions on the country's economy."This is an economic war against Iran but ... America should learn that it can not use the language of force against Iran ... We are prepared to resist any pressure," Rouhani said.To keep the deal alive, the remaining parties to the Iran nuclear deal are trying to maintain trade with Tehran despite scepticism this is possible despite U.S. sanctions to choke off Iranian oil sales.

US resumes all pre-nuclear deal sanctions on Iran

The U.S. snapped back all of the sanctions it lifted on Iran following a historic pact world powers struck with the Islamic Republic. Announced by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced last week, the sanctions which cover Iran's energy, shipbuilding, shipping and financial sectors took effect Monday.They are the second batch the U.S. administration reinstated since President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out of the nuclear deal in May despite objections from close allies in Europe.The 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.Eight countries who have significantly curtailed their imports of Iranian oil have been granted temporary waivers to allow them to continue importing Iranian oil after the penalties take effect. Two of the countries have agreed to reduce imports to zero while six others "will import at greatly reduced levels," Pompeo said.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.In all, 700 Iranian entities will be added to sanctions lists on Monday, according to Mnuchin.More than half, or about 400, will have had their designations lifted as part of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action while roughly 300 will be new designations.All of the other signatories -- China, the European Union, France, Germany, Iran, Russia and the United Kingdom -- have remained in the deal despite the U.S. action.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.Iranian marchers chant 'Death to America' on eve of US oil sanctionsGuards chief says Iran will resist, defeat US sanctionsStruggling to cope, Iranians fear more misery from US sanctions

Second wave of US sanctions on Iran starts Monday

The U.S. will reimpose on Monday more sanctions lifted under a 2015 nuclear pact world powers struck with Iran.The new wave of sanctions, the second since August, will target Iran's energy, shipbuilding, shipping, and financial sectors.The U.S. has been trickling out a list of 12 demands Iran must meet if it wants to see sanctions lifted ahead of their reimposition on Monday.In all, eight countries will receive temporary waivers to allow them to continue importing Iranian oil after the penalties take effect.The European Union is not one of the recipients, according to Pompeo who said those who receive waivers "have made important moves towards getting to zero crude oil importation."Two of the countries have agreed to reduce imports to zero while six others "will import at greatly reduced levels," according to the U.S. announcement on Friday.“These negotiations are still ongoing,” said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.The U.S. expects to have reduced Iranian oil exports by more than 1 million barrels even before Monday's tranche of economic penalties. In all, 700 Iranian entities will be added to sanctions lists on Monday, according to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.EU, Germany, UK, France deeply regret Iran sanctionsIran has no concerns over reimposition of new US sanctions: ministry officialTurkey, US lift tit-for-tat sanctionsMore than half, or about 400, will have had their designations lifted as part of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action while roughly 300 will be new designations.U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from the pact in May despite objections from close allies in Europe.All of the other signatories -- China, the European Union, France, Germany, Iran, Russia, and the United Kingdom -- have remained in the deal despite the U.S. action.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.On Friday, the EU, Germany, Britain and France said in a joint statement that they “deeply regret the further reimposition of sanctions by the United States".On late Friday, Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez said they have information that the U.S. will grant Turkey a waiver to continue importing oil from Iran after sanctions, but they don’t have all the details yet.UAE blames Iran's 'aggressive policies' for US sanctionsIran seeks European assurances as US oil sanctions loomIran's Khamenei says the world opposes Trump's decisions

Iranian marchers chant 'Death to America' on eve of US oil sanctions

Iranians chanting "Death to America" rallied on Sunday to mark both the anniversary of the seizure of the U.S. Embassy during the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the imminent reimposition of U.S. sanctions on Iran's key oil sector.Thousands of students in the government-organised rally in the capital Tehran, broadcast live by state television, burned the Stars and Stripes, an effigy of Uncle Sam and pictures of President Donald Trump outside the leafy downtown compound that once housed the U.S. mission.Hardline students stormed the embassy on Nov. 4, 1979 soon after the fall of the U.S.-backed Shah, and 52 Americans were held hostage there for 444 days. The two countries have been enemies, on opposite sides of Middle East conflict, ever since.Video: Iranians rally in Tehran to mark 39th anniv. of US Embassy takeoverIranian state media said millions turned out for rallies in most cities and towns around the country, swearing allegiance to the clerical establishment and its hardline top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The turnout figure could not be independently confirmed by Reuters.Rallies replete with "Death to America" chants are staged on the embassy takeover anniversary every year. But U.S.-Iranian rancour is especially strong this time round following Trump's decision in May to withdraw the United States from world powers' 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reimpose sanctions on Tehran.Iran seeks European assurances as US oil sanctions loomIran's Khamenei says the world opposes Trump's decisionsThe deal brought about the lifting of most international financial and economic sanctions on Iran in return for Tehran curbing its disputed nuclear activity under U.N. surveillance.The restoration of U.S. sanctions on Monday targeting Iran's oil sales and banking sectors is part of a wider effort by Trump to force Tehran to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes outright as well as support for proxy forces in conflicts across the Middle East.The top commander of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, said at the Tehran rally that Iran would resist and defeat a U.S. "psychological war" and the return of U.S. sanctions, meant to cripple the Islamic Republic's oil exports and financial institutions."America has launched an economic and psychological war as a last resort ... But America's plots and its plans for sanctions will be defeated through continued resistance," said Jafari.In a speech on Saturday, Khamenei said Trump's policies faced opposition around the world. "America's goal has been to re-establish the domination it had (before 1979) but it has failed. America has been defeated by the Islamic Republic over the past 40 years," he said.Guards chief says Iran will resist, defeat US sanctions

Bahrain court overturns acquittal of opposition leaders

A Bahraini court on Sunday ordered life sentences for three senior opposition members, overturning a previous acquittal on charges of spying for Qatar in what an international rights group called a "travesty of justice".A public prosecutor statement said the court sentenced Sheikh Ali Salman, secretary-general of the opposition al-Wefaq group, and Sheikh Hassan Sultan and Ali Alaswad, members of the same group, to life in jail for transferring confidential information and receiving financial support from Qatar.Bahrain’s public prosecutor had appealed a court ruling that acquitted the three senior leaders last June in a rare win for opposition figures who say they have been targeted by prosecutors for their political views.Sultan and Alaswad were tried in absentia. Salman is already serving a four-year prison sentence for inciting hatred and insulting the interior ministry, after he was arrested in 2015.Along with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, Bahrain imposed a boycott on Qatar last year, accusing it of supporting terrorism and cosying up to Iran.Qatar denies the charges, saying they are an attempt to undermine its sovereignty.Since the Bahrain authorities crushed street protests in 2011, demonstrators have clashed frequently with security forces, who have been targeted by several bomb attacks. Manama says Qatar supports the unrest, accusations denied by Doha."This verdict is a travesty of justice that demonstrates the Bahraini authorities’ relentless and unlawful efforts to silence any form of dissent," Amnesty International said in a statement."Sheikh Ali Salman is a prisoner of conscience who is being held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression."Alaswad, who has lived in London since 2011, has told Reuters that the public prosecutor used secret witnesses and a video from a Bahraini television channel which experts described as edited and incomplete.Courts in Bahrain, where the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet is based, last year dissolved al-Wefaq and National Democratic Action Society (Waad), accusing them of helping to foster violence and terrorism.Bahrain has barred members of dissolved opposition groups from running in parliamentary elections due to be held later this month.Wefaq, which has strong links to the country’s Shi’ite Muslim majority, and Waad, which is seen as a secular movement, have both campaigned for social and political reforms in the country, which is ruled by a Sunni Muslim royal family.UAE blames Iran's 'aggressive policies' for US sanctions