US imposes new sanctions on Iran nuclear programme before talks

WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday announced new sanctions targeting Iran´s nuclear programme ahead of closely watched talks on the row between the longtime adversaries.

The Treasury Department said it was imposing sanctions under additional authorities on five entities including the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran and one individual over the contested nuclear programme.

In practical terms, the move is symbolic as the United States already enforces sweeping sanctions on Iran and particularly its nuclear programme, whose scientists have also been the target of an assassination campaign attributed to Israel.

But the sanctions are the latest show of pressure by the United States ahead of the talks, which are set to take place on Saturday in Oman.

“The Iranian regime´s reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons remains a grave threat to the United States and a menace to regional stability and global security,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement, vowing to “disrupt any attempt by Iran to advance its nuclear programme.”Meanwhile, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday Iran has no objection to American investors doing business in the country but the country firmly opposes any attempts at regime change or foreign interference.”The leader has no objection to the presence of American investors in the country,” Pezeshkian said of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a speech broadcast on state television.

“We oppose their flawed policies, such as conspiracies and attempts at regime change.”

“The leader said that we are ready to negotiate, but not in direct negotiations because we do not trust them,” Pezeshkian said.

After signing the accord in 2015, Khamenei said the United States had sought “to use these negotiations and this agreement to find a way to infiltrate the country”.

“We have closed this path and we will close it decisively,” he said.

“We will not allow American economic infiltration into our country, nor their political infiltration, nor their political presence, nor their cultural infiltration.”