Trump imposes new sanctions on Iran as nuclear tensions escalate

Donald Trump ordered new sanctions against Iran on Wednesday hours after Tehran said it was relaxing some restrictions on its nuclear programme.

The sanctions requested by the US president target Iran’s steel, aluminium, copper and iron sectors – worth around 10 per cent of the country’s economy, according to the White House.

Iran had announced hours earlier that it was stepping up some of its nuclear capabilities - steps that stopped short of violating its historic deal with world powers for now, but threatening more action if countries do not shield it from US sanctions.

The Trump administration said it would continue its “maximum pressure” campaign on the Iranian government until it stops destabilising activities in the region, gives up any nuclear weapons efforts and ends any development of ballistic missiles.

“Tehran can expect further actions unless it fundamentally alters its conduct,” said Mr Trump, who also called on the Iranians to “return in good faith to the negotiating table”.

The US, Germany, Britain, France, Russia, China and the European Union signed a deal with Iran in 2015 that lifted international sanctions in exchange for Tehran limiting its nuclear programme.

One year ago, Mr Trump pulled out of the agreement, calling it “the worst deal in history”. He said the accord should also have restrained Iran’s ballistic missile programme and curbed what his administration considers Tehran’s malign activities in the region.

The other nations have remained in the nuclear deal – technically known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – and have tried to provide Iran with enough economic incentives to keep the agreement alive.

Iran threatened earlier on Wednesday to enrich its uranium stockpile closer to weapons-grade levels in 60 days if world powers fail to negotiate new terms for its 2015 nuclear deal. The country has stopped its sale of excess uranium and heavy water as a first step – something required under the deal.

In 60 days, if no new deal is in place, Iran said it would increase its enrichment of uranium beyond 3.67 per cent, which is permitted by the accord.

President Hassan Rouhani did not say how far Iran would be willing to enrich, although the head of its nuclear programme again reiterated Iran could reach 20 per cent enrichment within four days. Once a country enriches uranium to around 20 per cent, scientists say the time needed to reach the 90 per cent threshold for weapons-grade uranium is halved.

“The Iranian people and the world should know that today is not the end of the JCPOA,” Mr Rouhani said in a televised address. “These are actions in line with the JCPOA.”

France and Germany both said they wanted to keep the nuclear deal alive, and warned Iran not to violate it.

“It is important to avoid any action that would impede the implementation of their obligations by the parties now engaged in the accord or that would fuel an escalation,” said French deputy foreign ministry spokesman Olivier Gauvin.

China said the deal should continue to be implemented and called on all sides to exercise restraint and pursue dialogue.

Speaking on a visit to the London, secretary of state Mike Pompeo urged the UK to stand with the US when it came to Iran, claiming “we’re on the side of creating a nation for the Iranian people”.

The weeks leading up to the anniversary of Mr Trump’s withdrawal from the agreement have seen a sharp tightening of US sanctions and an increase in tensions on other fronts.

Earlier this week Washington announced the deployment of an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Middle East to counter what it says are “clear indications” of Iranian threats to US forces in the region.

Additional reporting by agencies