US deals a double blow to Iran's nuclear ambitions
Ends sanctions waivers for work on nuclear sites, slaps fresh curbs on two key officials
May 28, 2020
The United States announced it is ending sanctions waivers that allow Russian, Chinese and European companies to work on sensitive Iranian nuclear sites, dealing another major blow to the Iran nuclear deal. — Courtesy photo
WASHINGTON — As part of the maximum pressure campaign launched by President Donald Trump against Iran, the United States on Wednesday slapped fresh sanctions on two Iranian nuclear officials, Majid Agha’i and Amjad Sazgar.
The US also announced it is ending sanctions waivers that allow Russian, Chinese and European companies to work on sensitive Iranian nuclear sites, dealing another major blow to the Iran nuclear deal.
The waivers, which will expire after 60 days, had covered the conversion of Iran's Arak heavy water research reactor, the provision of enriched uranium for its Tehran Research Reactor, and the transfer of spent and scrap reactor fuel abroad.
Later in the day, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed both the moves in two consecutive tweets.
In the first tweet, Pompeo said: “Today, I am ending the sanctions waiver for JCPOA-related projects in Iran, effective in 60 days. Iran’s continued nuclear escalation makes clear this cooperation must end. Further attempts at nuclear extortion will only bring greater pressure on the regime.”
“I am also sanctioning two leaders of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program — Majid Agha’i and Amjad Sazgar. Iran’s scientists need to make a choice: pursue peaceful work outside of the proliferation realm, or risk being sanctioned," Pompeo’s second tweet read.
Sazgar, one of the two officials who have been hit by the sanctions, is the managing director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran entity responsible for the industrial-scale production of uranium enrichment gas centrifuge machines.
In 2019, Sazgar managed and supervised the installation of centrifuges at Iran’s Fordow Fuel Enrichment plant. Through these activities, Sazgar has contributed to Iran’s continued provocative and destabilizing expansion of its nuclear capabilities, Pompeo said in a statement.
Agha’i, the other official, has also been centrally involved in Iran’s uranium enrichment centrifuge operations, and is a manager in the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran subsidiary responsible for research and development of advanced centrifuges, according to the State Department. — Agencies
