The State Department is slamming Iran's latest uranium enrichment acceleration in violation of the Iran nuclear agreement, calling it "extortion" the U.S. and international community should not appease.
.@statedeptspox Morgan Ortagus: "We should not yield to nuclear extortion by the Iranian regime." pic.twitter.com/DpK1BKvbPY
— The Hill (@thehill) June 17, 2019
Over the weekend, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterated the mission of stopping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and held the regime responsible for current escalations in the region.
Chris asks Secretary Pompeo @SecPompeo about the two oil tanker attacks last week #FNS pic.twitter.com/RJP9pSnbLJ
— FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) June 16, 2019
Chris asks Secretary Pompeo @SecPompeo what President Trump is going to do about Iran’s aggression in the latest alleged attacks #FNS pic.twitter.com/AhHWVQgJzE
— FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) June 16, 2019
Secretary Pompeo says "Iran will not get a nuclear weapon" #FNS #FoxNews pic.twitter.com/93JyKc2SuO
— FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) June 16, 2019
Last week Iran attacked a Japanese oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman. Today the U.S. released more evidence Iran is responsible, despite repeated denials.
#BREAKING Latest images from US military show better view of what appears to be Iran #IRGC on fast attack craft approaching damaged tanker, removing limpet mine. Damage appears to be clearly made by limpet mine, weapon used by #Iran in past. pic.twitter.com/i6PNQgGUGX
— Carla Babb (@CarlaBabbVOA) June 17, 2019
Meanwhile, the U.S. is reportedly ready to slap more sanctions Iran for financial violations. From the Washington Free Beacon:
The Trump administration is considering new sanctions on Iran to stop it from using backdoor financial methods as a means to skirt U.S. economic sanctions on its business dealings with leading European nations, according to multiple U.S. officials who told the Free Beacon that Tehran is operating a "nuclear racket."
The new sanctions would directly target Iran's Special Trade and Finance Institute (STFI), an alternate financial body established by Tehran to ensure it can continue engaging in lucrative trade deals with Europe in the face of heavy U.S. sanctions. The STFI was meant to replace the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (ISTEX), which France, Germany, and the United Kingdom created in January to facilitate trade with Iran.