Trump Signs Executive Order Imposing New Iran Sanctions

“We will continue to increase pressure on Tehran, until the regime abandons its dangerous activities” says US President.

US President Donald Trump is adding more sanctions on Iran, following his decision to stop an airstrike on Iran at the last minute.

Trump signed an Executive Order imposing the sanctions in an Oval Office photo-op, which you can watch below:

Trump said the sanctions would be “hard-hitting,” while adding that he doesn’t want war with Iran.

“We will continue to increase pressure on Tehran, until the regime abandons its dangerous activities. We do not seek conflict with Iran or any other country. I can only tell you we cannot ever let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”

There are clear divisions within the Trump Administration on how to handle relations with Iran. Neo-Cons like John Bolton (who Trump said would have the US fighting the whole world if he got his way) clearly wants war with Iran, while Trump and some of his more nationalist advisors seem disinclined to further embed the US in another mideast war.

Along those lines, Trump recently Tweeted about how countries other than the US have more at risk from a potential disruption at the Strait of Hormuz:

“China gets 91% of its Oil from the Straight, Japan 62%, & many other countries likewise. So why are we protecting the shipping lanes for other countries (many years) for zero compensation. All of these countries should be protecting their own ships on what has always been….”

“….a dangerous journey. We don’t even need to be there in that the U.S. has just become (by far) the largest producer of Energy anywhere in the world! The U.S. request for Iran is very simple – No Nuclear Weapons and No Further Sponsoring of Terror!”

Spencer Fernando

Photo – YouTube