U.S. Will Not Renew Sanction Waivers to Countries that Import Oil from Iran

On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held a press conference in which he announced that the United States government will no longer issue waivers to countries that import oil from Iran exempting them from sanctions.

Exemptions for Japan, South Korea, Turkey, China, and India are set to expire on May 2nd and will not be renewed, according to Secretary Pompeo. These countries will face U.S. sanctions if they continue importing oil from Iran after that date.

The decision follows the recent designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the United States. The FTO designation makes it illegal to provide financial support, equipment, materials, or professional advice to any entities or organizations affiliated with the IRGC. Anyone found in violation may face civil and/or criminal prosecution.

The resumption of economic sanctions against the Iranian regime, the FTO designation, and the end of oil exemptions are all part of the Trump administration’s tough stance on the mullahs’ regime. The change in policy ends a longstanding policy of appeasement to the mullahs and has placed serious economic and political pressure on the Iranian regime.

Statement from the White House

The White House issued a statement in advance of Pompeo’s press conference, explaining its decision. The full text may be read below:

“President Donald J. Trump has decided not to reissue Significant Reduction Exceptions (SREs) when they expire in early May. This decision is intended to bring Iran’s oil exports to zero, denying the regime its principal source of revenue. The United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, three of the world’s great energy producers, along with our friends and allies, are committed to ensuring that global oil markets remain adequately supplied. We have agreed to take timely action to assure that global demand is met as all Iranian oil is removed from the market.

“The Trump Administration and our allies are determined to sustain and expand the maximum economic pressure campaign against Iran to end the regime’s destabilizing activity threatening the United States, our partners and allies, and security in the Middle East. The President’s decision to eliminate all SREs follows the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, demonstrating the United States commitment to disrupting Iran’s terror network and changing the regime’s malign behavior. We welcome the support of our friends and allies for this effort.​”

Maryam Rajavi’s Response

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), welcomed the decision in a tweet, writing:

“Oil is a national treasure and must be put in the service of the Iranian people’s welfare and advancement. But the mullahs either plunder it or spend it on suppression and exporting terrorism and war.
#Iran
#IranSanctions”

She also described measures that the international community could take to support the Iranian people and end the religious dictatorship.

Oil embargo & #BlacklistIRGC must be complemented by other measures, including the recognition of the right of the Iranian ppl & Resistance to overthrow the religious dictatorship & designating other organs of repression,expelling MOIS & IRGC agents from US & Europe
#Iran

Mrs. Rajavi also urged the international community to take action to visit political prisoners in Iran and to call for their release in light of recent comments from the regime’s Minister of Intelligence in which he claimed that the regime had “dealt with” 118 MEK teams in the past year.

Staff writer