President Trump signed an executive order Wednesday imposing new sanctions against Iran on its production of iron, steel, aluminum and copper.
“With this action, the United States has now imposed sanctions on Iran’s top three exports — oil, petrochemicals, and metals,” the White House said in a statement.
Trump is ramping up the pressure on Iran after President Hassan Rouhani announced the Islamic Republic would begin reducing its commitment to a nuclear deal that Washington withdrew from exactly a year ago Wednesday.
Trump warned Iran that unless it “fundamentally alters its conduct,” more penalties would be imposed.
“Since our exit from the Iran deal, which is broken beyond repair, the United States has put forward 12 conditions that offer the basis of a comprehensive agreement with Iran,” the president said in a statement. “I look forward to someday meeting with the leaders of Iran in order to work out an agreement and, very importantly, taking steps to give Iran the future it deserves.”
The administration reinstated sanctions against Iran last November in an effort to choke off revenue and hinder its ability to make weapons.