Iran Nuclear NewsU.S. State Department: Iran sanctions 'potentially' having impact on...

U.S. State Department: Iran sanctions ‘potentially’ having impact on nuclear program

-

Wall Street Journal: U.S. economic sanctions on Iran are likely changing the thinking of its leadership toward its nuclear program, administration officials told a Senate foreign relations panel Wednesday. The Wall Street Journal

By SARAH PORTLOCK

U.S. economic sanctions on Iran are likely changing the thinking of its leadership toward its nuclear program, administration officials told a Senate foreign relations panel Wednesday.

“We do believe that the imposition of sanctions and pain that is being put on the Iranian regime is having an effect–perhaps not enough of an effect to change the calculus of the supreme leader, but it’s on its way potentially to doing so,” said the State Department’s under secretary for political affairs, Wendy Sherman, at a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that focused on U.S. policy in Iran.

Ms. Sherman said she did not believe the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has made the strategic decision to “deal on their nuclear program,” but rather the country’s posturing and statements are projections of power and an assertion of their authority.

Since early last year, the U.S. has targeted more than 75 Iranian individuals and entities in efforts to limit their access to the U.S. financial system, putting pressure on its oil revenues and reserves, and devaluing its currency, the rial, said David Cohen, the Treasury Department’s under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. The goal is to change the regime’s behavior about its nuclear program and respond to international concerns.

Earlier Wednesday, the Treasury announced additional sanctions against an exchange house and trading company, based in the United Arab Emirates, for aiding Iran in its attempts to evade economic sanctions and maintain access to foreign currency exchanges.

Other designations in recent years have made it difficult for Iran to access the revenue it makes from dwindling sales overseas and, in turn, puts pressure on the value of the rial, Mr. Cohen said, creating incentives for negotiations to potentially work.

Ms. Sherman said there has been some “slight movement” in negotiations with Iran, but recent offers were “just too small.”

“They’re trying to, in essence, respond in their own way to the international community’s concerns,” Ms. Sherman said. “It’s not what we want as a response, but it shows they’re paying attention.”

Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) asked what developments in the region might change Iran’s thinking. Ms. Sherman pointed to whether the Assad regime would be overturned in Syria, any peace agreement between Israel and Palestine, and what happens with North Korea’s nuclear program.

“At the end of the day, based on my own experience, this is ultimately about regime survival, and survival of the choices they have made about how their country is governed,” Ms. Sherman told the panel. “It will be that regime’s survival that will affect their calculus.”

Latest news

 Statistics show that New Year accidents’ deaths in Iran reached 585

Ahmad Shirani, the head of the Information and Traffic Control Center of the Iranian regime’s police, announced that the...

Land Subsidence in Critical Conditions in Isfahan

Mehdi Toghyani, a member of the Iranian regime’s Majlis (parliament), pointed to the occurrence of land subsidence in various...

Iran’s Actual Inflation Rate Higher Than Official Stats

The state-run Donya-e-eqtesad newspaper, in a report analyzing the "general sentiment" regarding inflation in 2023, has stated that households...

Iranian Workers’ Monthly $136 Wages Can’t Cover $500 Expenses

The lives of a significant portion of the Iranian population are marked by uncertainty, largely because the Iranian economy...

Iranian Nurses Earn Twice Their Wages in Ride-Hailing Services

Reza Aryanpour, a member of the regime’s Majlis (parliament) Health and Treatment Commission, highlighted the growing trend of nurses...

Iran: Unprecedented Record of 152 Million Liters of Gasoline Consumption Per Day

On March 19, Iran set a new historical record in gasoline consumption with 152 million liters consumed in one...

Must read

Iran says to unveil air defence equal to Russia system

Reuters: Iran will soon unveil a domestically-made air defence...

Iran military threatens U.S. troops in region

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Nov. 23 – The supreme...

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you