On Thursday, June 27, the United States Department of State announced new sanctions targeting Iran’s “continued nuclear escalation.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in the statement released by the State Department that “Iran has announced further expansion of its nuclear program over the past month, and its methods are not convincing to be for peaceful purposes.”
The statement pointed out that “Given Iran’s continued refusal to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and remarks by Iranian officials suggesting Iran may change its nuclear doctrine, Iran’s actions to increase enrichment capability are more concerning.”
Iran insists that the purpose of its nuclear program is entirely for peace, but in May, an adviser to Iran’s top leader stated that if Israel threatens Iran’s existence, Iran will change its nuclear weapons policy. This statement has raised concerns among the International Atomic Energy Agency and Western countries.
Blinken reiterated the United States’ security policy of “preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons” and stated readiness to use all national resources to ensure this outcome.
In the fact sheet released by the State Department, the U.S. accused three companies based in the United Arab Emirates of knowingly participating in significant transactions involving the transport of Iranian oil or petrochemical products. The new sanctions will target these three entities and freeze assets associated with 11 vessels linked to these entities.
According to a Reuters report on June 14, the Group of Seven (G7) leaders had warned Iran not to advance its nuclear enrichment program and stated that if Tehran transfers ballistic missiles to Moscow, they will impose new sanctions at any time.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani condemned this statement, calling on the G7 to distance themselves from “destructive policies of the past.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported in June that Iran had rapidly installed additional uranium enrichment centrifuges at the Fordow nuclear facility.
According to Reuters, based on IAEA standards, Iran is currently enriching uranium to a purity of up to 60%, while the purity required for weapons-grade uranium is 90%, and Iran already has enough material to refine to 90% purity, which could be used to manufacture three nuclear weapons if further enriched.
Iran has also continuously delayed the reinstallation of IAEA monitoring equipment, and in September last year, expelled several UN inspectors, undermining the UN’s oversight of Iran’s nuclear activities.
In early June, the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution urging Iran to enhance cooperation with the monitoring agency and revoke its ban on inspectors.