The US has declared all international sanctions against Iran have been restored despite the rest of the world vowing to ignore the move.
Donald Trump’s administration said on Saturday night its triggering of the so-called “snap back” mechanism in the UN Security Council resolution that enshrined the 2015 Iran nuclear deal had taken effect.
It comes 30 days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo notified the council Iran was in “significant non-performance” of its obligations under the deal.
The mechanism would mean that international sanctions eased or lifted under the nuclear deal are reimposed and must be enforced by UN member states.
However, other members of the council say Washington lost the legal ability to invoke it after the US withdrew from the nuclear deal and reimposed American sanctions on Iran.
In a statement, Pompeo said “the world will be safer as a result” of the US decision.
The White House plans to issue an executive order on Monday spelling out how it will will enforce the restored sanctions, with the State and Treasury departments expected to outline how foreign individuals and businesses will be penalised for violations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif rejected the US move, saying the snapback mechanism and reimposed sanctions were invalid.
Read the article in The Canberra Times and The West Australian.