Sanctions

Obama Puts His Own Iran Nuclear Deal in Jeopardy by Doubling Down on Sanctions

On Friday, President Obama extended US sanctions against Iran, explaining that in spite of its commitment to the 2015 nuclear deal, Tehran continues to pose "an unusual and extraordinary threat" to Washington. Irritated by the outgoing president's move, Tehran will soon have to face Donald Trump and his threats to shred the nuclear deal entirely.

Obama signed extensions of seven different sanctions programs targeting six countries and non-state actors on Friday, including Iran, Russia, Cuba, Libya, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.  Obama explained his decision to keep sanctions in place in a letter to Congressional leaders, saying that in spite of the fact that Tehran has met its commitments under the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, "irrespective of [that deal]…certain actions and policies of the government of Iran continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States."