US Decision to Lift Iran Sanctions Unrelated to JCPOA Talks, State Dept. Says
The U.S. lifted sanctions against three former Iranian government officials and two companies last week but said they were unrelated to U.S. efforts to rejoin the Iran nuclear deal. The delistings were the “result of a verified change in status or behavior on the part of the sanctioned parties,” the State Department said June 10. The agency said the people and companies previously helped buy, sell, transport or market Iranian petrochemical products, but sanctions are no longer warranted. “These actions demonstrate our commitment to lifting sanctions in the event of a change in status or behavior by sanctioned persons,” Secretary Antony Blinken said in a statement.
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The State Department said the decision to lift the sanctions wasn’t related to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (see 2105270025). The U.S. and Iran have not yet agreed to return to the deal partly because Iran first wants the U.S. to lift certain sanctions. “Just to be clear, there is no linkage, there is no connection to the delistings that we announced today to the JCPOA or to negotiations that are ongoing in Vienna,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said June 10. “[D]elisting is a normal practice. It is a practice consistent with good sanctions hygiene and administrative processes.”
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., criticized the decision to lift the sanctions. “Hostile nations across the globe are testing the Biden Administration on a daily basis,” he said June 10. “Today’s actions display a dangerous weakness that will only further embolden our enemies.” Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., also criticized the decision because, he said, the Iranian government still sponsors terrorism. "Is this the start of sanctions relief [for Iran]?" he said June 11.