The U.S. Imposes New Sanctions on the Islamic Republic in Response to 'New Nuclear Actions' and 'Threats to Change Nuclear Doctrine'

On Thursday, July 7, the U.S. Department of State reacted to the Islamic Republic's actions to develop its nuclear program and statements from its officials regarding a potential change in its 'nuclear doctrine' by sanctioning three Emirati companies for 'participating in the transportation of Iranian oil and petrochemical products.' According to the State Department's statement, this action was taken under Executive Order 13846 of the U.S. President due to violations of Iran sanctions. The sanctioned companies are: Sea Route Shipping Management Company, which managed the Astra vessel, involved in transporting Iranian petrochemical products in late November 2021; Almanak Shipping Management Company, which managed the Bernice Pride vessel, involved in transporting Iranian oil in late October 2022; and L'Ancour Shipping Management Company, which managed the Parine vessel, also involved in transporting Iranian oil in late October 2022. Additionally, eleven vessels associated with these companies have been identified and sanctioned as blocked property: Astra, Baltic Horizon, Nile, Yamuna, Bernice Pride, Harmony, Euro Viking, Euro Fortune, Arabian Energy, Parine, and Rud. As a result of these sanctions, all assets and properties of these companies in the U.S. will be blocked, and any transactions with them will be prohibited for U.S. citizens and companies. Furthermore, any entity or organization in which more than 50% of the shares are owned by these companies will also be subject to sanctions. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that these sanctions are a response to the Islamic Republic's new actions to develop its nuclear program, especially following its lack of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and statements from Iranian officials regarding a potential change in the country's 'nuclear doctrine.' Blinken emphasized that the Biden administration's policy remains focused on preventing the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons and will utilize all applicable laws and regulations in this regard. He referenced a G7 statement that called on the Islamic Republic to refrain from further developing its nuclear program and to cease destabilizing actions in the region. The head of the IAEA recently announced that Iran's stockpile of 60% enriched uranium is increasing and has reached about 142 kilograms, which is over 20 kilograms more than the agency's previous estimate. However, due to access restrictions to nuclear sites in Iran, this figure is considered an estimate. The Wall Street Journal reports that new intelligence indicates that the Islamic Republic is beginning to work on the necessary missiles to carry about six nuclear bombs, which could be produced using that amount of enriched uranium. Mark Dubowitz, a veteran Iran affairs observer from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, recently stated that he believes the 'militarization' of Iran's nuclear program has begun.