BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Threatens Major New Sanctions on Iran
The United States has warned that Monday could mark a major turning point for Iran, referring to the planned measures as “D-Day” and describing them as potentially devastating in scale.
Washington has threatened to impose a sweeping new sanctions package targeting Iran, with officials suggesting that the economic impact could be comparable to the intensity of a “doomsday” scenario.
The exact scope of the sanctions and the sectors or entities they will target remains unclear. However, the United States has warned that countries and companies that continue significant trade or economic dealings with Iran after the measures take effect could also face serious economic consequences.
Turkey and Iraq are likely to face particular pressure. Both countries share borders with Iran and have become important channels for Iranian trade, particularly amid the disruption caused by the recent conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
Iran has condemned Washington’s threatened measures as what it calls “economic terrorism” against the Iranian people. Tehran has also accused the United States of attempting to undermine the economic sovereignty of other countries by threatening them with penalties for maintaining legitimate trade relations with Iran.
OPINION
Washington’s planned sanctions raise a broader question: How far should one country be allowed to pressure other nations over their economic relations with a third country?
If the United States proceeds with sweeping measures against Iran and threatens secondary consequences for countries such as Turkey and Iraq, will any major power be willing to step forward and tell Washington to back down?
Can anyone stop Washington or will the international community simply watch as the pressure campaign expands?