President Donald Trump on Monday imposed new sanctions on Iran amid escalating tensions with Tehran.
Trump claimed the new sanctions were a “strong and proportionate response” to Iran’s “increasingly provocative actions,” which include the recent downing of an unmanned U.S. drone. Iran claimed the drone was flying in its airspace. The U.S. maintains the aircraft was over international waters.
“We will continue to increase pressure on Tehran until the regime abandons its dangerous activities and aspirations,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office as he signed an executive order for the sanctions. “Including the pursuit of nuclear weapons, increased enrichment of uranium, development of ballistic missiles, engagement in and support for terrorism, fueling of foreign conflicts and belligerent acts directed against the United States and its allies.”
Trump maintained that his administration does “not seek conflict with Iran or any other country,” but that “never can Iran have a nuclear weapon.”
When asked if the sanctions were retaliation over Iran shooting down an unmanned U.S. drone, Trump said that “this was something that was going to happen anyway.”
Watch Trump below:
Trump slaps new "hard hitting" sanctions on Iran pic.twitter.com/67oT4DxWvj
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) June 24, 2019
