US Applies Fresh Sanctions On Iran, Prospect Of Nuclear Deal Remote

The United States Treasury Department has announced a fresh raft of sanctions on members of the Iranian government in response to the suppression of protests following the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody of Iran's Morality Police.

• Included in sanctions is Iran’s Minister of the Interior, Ahmad Vahidi, Minister of Communications Eisa Zarepour, and members of Iranian security services and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps.
• The sanctions will further complicate attempts to revive the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action accords.
• Negotiations to revive the accords, which provide sanction relief for the Iranian oil sector in return for IAEA oversight of Iran's nuclear programme, stalled last month over demands from Tehran that the US provide assurances that a future administration will not unliterally terminate the accords - seen as likely if former US President Donald Trump wins a second term in the Oval Office in 2024.
• The Biden administration continues to assert that diplomacy is the best means for preventing Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon and remains in the national security interests of the US to pursue JCPOA with Iran.