US to punish Maduro for cooperation with Iran
The United States is imposing new sanctions against Iran's defense ministry, as well as against those who cooperated with Tehran on its nuclear program. In particular, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will be punished for this, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced. This was reported by Reuters.
The move is confirmation that Washington's sanctions policy towards the Islamic Republic has been restored, Pompeo said in an official speech to reporters. It is noted that the American side is ready to impose sanctions against any state that will help Iran in this area. The corresponding decree was signed by US President Donald Trump.
The allies of the United States are not ready to follow them on this issue: on September 20, it became known that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres refused to consider the US request for the restoration of sanctions against Iran. He expressed doubts that the country really violates international agreements and should be subject to UN sanctions.
The United States has repeatedly demanded an extension of the ban on arms supplies to Iran, which expires on October 18, 2020, in accordance with the terms of Tehran's so-called nuclear deal with the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. At the same time, in 2018, the American side announced its withdrawal from this agreement and threatened Iran with additional sanctions.
