Extension of U.S. Presidential Executive Order on 'National Emergency Regarding Iran'

On Thursday, November 8, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, extended the 'Executive Order on the National Emergency Regarding Iran' for another year. This executive order was first issued on November 14, 1979, and has been renewed annually since then. In Trump's message to the U.S. Congress published on the White House website, he stated: 'U.S. relations with Iran have not yet returned to normal, and the process of implementing the agreement of January 19, 1981, is ongoing.' Trump referred to the Algiers Accords, which Iran and the U.S. signed on January 19, 1981, to end the hostage crisis of U.S. embassy staff in Tehran. The embassy staff were released after 444 days of captivity and returned to their country. Trump emphasized: 'For this reason, it is necessary for the national emergency declaration issued on November 14, 1979, and all actions taken to address this emergency to continue after November 14, 2018.' The U.S. President further stated: 'Therefore, under the National Emergency Act, I am extending Executive Order 12170 regarding Iran for another year.' Additionally, 300 new individuals and entities will be added to the list of U.S. sanctions against Iran. While the 'Executive Order on the National Emergency Regarding Iran' has been extended for another year, senior U.S. officials announced on November 5 that all sanctions against Iran's oil and gas industry and shipping have been reinstated. Iran and six world powers, namely the U.S., Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany, reached an agreement known as the JCPOA in July 2015 after two years of negotiations to resolve Tehran's nuclear program. Under this agreement, some of Iran's nuclear activities were limited, and in return, U.S. and UN Security Council nuclear sanctions against Tehran were suspended. However, Trump, who has consistently criticized the nuclear agreement since his 2016 election campaign, announced the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA on May 8 of this year and ordered the reinstatement of all sanctions against the Islamic Republic. These sanctions have been implemented in two phases. The U.S. is seeking negotiations regarding the future of Iran's nuclear program after the JCPOA, its missile program, and Iran's regional activities. Meanwhile, Iranian officials state that Tehran will not negotiate at all regarding the JCPOA and its missile program.