U.S. Keeps Iran Nuclear Deal in Place but Levels Other Sanctions

The Trump administration extended U.S. sanctions relief to Iran as part of its 2015 nuclear agreement, senior U.S. officials said Thursday, but levied new punitive measures over Tehran’s ballistic missile program, cyberattacks and terrorism support.

Administration officials announced the decisions simultaneously, moving to keep a modicum of economic pressure on Iran despite reluctantly preserving the nuclear deal, in keeping with the strong preference of European allies.

As part of the nuclear deal, the U.S. agreed to waive a wide range of sanctions, renewing the waiver every 120 days to ensure Iran abides by its commitments. Those sanctions, along with a plunge in oil prices, had originally pressured Tehran to the negotiating .
The nuclear deal’s fate remains uncertain, however, as the Trump administration continues a review of Iran policy. Senior administration officials said the waiver is an interim decision, pending final policy determinations.