Announcement of New U.S. Strategy Towards Iran; Sanctioning the IRGC and Non-Confirmation of Compliance with the JCPOA

U.S. President Donald Trump, as part of his new strategy towards Iran, has authorized the Treasury Department to add the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its sanctions list. Trump also did not confirm Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement. On Friday, October 13, he stated that based on credible information he has received, he cannot confirm Iran's adherence to the nuclear deal. He emphasized that the U.S. will not continue on a path that predictably leads to more violence and terrorism and a real threat of Iran's nuclear development. He warned that if a solution is not reached with Congress and allies, the U.S. will terminate the agreement. Regarding the IRGC, Trump criticized its behavior in the region and beyond, as well as its support for terrorist activities. Despite speculation about designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization, he stated he would give the Treasury Department the authority to add the IRGC to the sanctions list. Trump also noted that the Iranian people have paid a heavy price due to their leaders' actions and expressed hope that the new measures would lead to a reassessment of Iran's behavior and contribute to peace and stability in the region. He recalled events such as the U.S. embassy takeover in Tehran in 1979, stating, "Iran's dictatorial regime's aggressions have continued to this day." The U.S. President declared, "We stand firmly with the greatest victims of the Iranian regime, the people of that country." He added, "The regime's target is not only Americans; the Islamic Republic has also killed students and protesters in Iran during the Green Movement protests." In the first reaction to the announcement of the new U.S. strategy towards Iran, House Speaker Paul Ryan expressed support for the government's decision to reassess the nuclear agreement and will cooperate with the administration to counter Iran's "destabilizing actions." Simultaneously with Trump's remarks, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it has added the IRGC to its sanctions list. The announcement of the new U.S. strategy towards Iran has been welcomed by two of America's main allies in the Middle East, Israel and Saudi Arabia. However, Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, stated immediately after Trump's speech that ending the JCPOA is not dependent on the decision of one country. She emphasized that a collective process is now needed to preserve the JCPOA. Following Trump's announcement of Iran's non-compliance with the JCPOA, the U.S. Congress will have 60 days to decide on the imposition of new sanctions on Iran. Part of this process is an initiative by two Republican senators, Bob Corker and Tom Cotton, who are set to introduce new legislation in the next two weeks to address the "flaws" in the Iran nuclear agreement. According to Senator Corker, one of the bill's sponsors, such legislation will not violate the nuclear agreement with Iran. A Politico report indicates that this proposal will be presented as an amendment to the current Congressional law passed in 2015 and is intended to address the end of the time-limited restrictions outlined in the JCPOA, known as the "sunset" provisions. Adding such an amendment does not require the consent of the other P5+1 countries and Iran, as it falls under domestic U.S. matters. Previously, the Washington Post had reported that one of Trump's major grievances with the JCPOA is that parts of the agreement are temporary. The American newspaper noted that the funds Iran has gained from this agreement, the fact that the agreement does not prevent Iran from testing ballistic missiles, the limited capacity of inspectors to monitor Iranian facilities, and the issue that Iran is not adhering to the spirit of the agreement are other grievances Trump has regarding the JCPOA. All these points were emphasized in Trump's speech on Friday.