US imposes new Iran sanctions amid nuclear talks

As preparations continue for the third round of US-Iran nuclear negotiations, new sanctions against Iran have emerged. The US administration announced new sanctions targeting an Iranian LPG company and its affiliated entities. Iran condemned the new sanctions, stating they “contradict the dialogue process.”

At a time when nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington were reportedly “progressing better than expected,” the US imposed new sanctions on Iran’s energy sector. Days before the third round of nuclear talks, the US Treasury Department announced new sanctions targeting Seyyed Asadollah Emamjomeh, a leading Iranian businessman in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector, and his associated corporate network. The sanctions were imposed within the framework of the “maximum pressure” policy against Iran, which US President Donald Trump continued despite the nuclear negotiations.

In its statement, the US Treasury Department alleged that Emamjomeh and the affiliates of his son, Meysam Emamjomeh, a British and Iranian citizen residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), “provide revenue to the Iranian regime and its proxies.” The department stated that the father and son “own and operate an LPG sales, transportation, and delivery network worth hundreds of millions of dollars using multiple Iran and UAE-based companies,” and made the following claim:

“In addition to crude oil, LPG continues to be a significant revenue source for the Iranian regime, and this revenue finances Iran’s nuclear and advanced conventional weapons programs, as well as regional proxy groups and partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas.”

In a written statement regarding the new sanctions, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ismail Bekayi said that the sanctions were a clear indication of the Washington administration’s hostile attitude towards the Iranian people and contradicted the US’s claims of dialogue.

Bekayi stated that the US was “bullying for political pressure” and that the sanctions were “illegal.”

The new sanctions were announced at a time when sources speaking to al-Arabi al-Jadeed said that “nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington are progressing better than expected.” These sources had stated, “We expect an agreement between Tehran and Washington within the next two months – which is likely to be sooner. Iran-American negotiations are progressing better than expected.”

The report noted that “the serious conduct of the American negotiator surprised the Iranian side; unrealistic demands unrelated to the nuclear dispute were not raised,” and used the phrase, “The US approves Iran’s right to enrich uranium in principle.” The sources also said that Iran had “submitted proposals to provide assurances regarding the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.”

The first round of nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Oman, took place last Saturday in Muscat, and the second round was held on April 19 in Rome. The third round is planned to take place this Saturday in Oman.