Washington, once again, imposed a new wave of sanctions against Iranian companies and individuals despite the interim nuclear deal cut in November 24, 2013 between Tehran and the six major world powers.
The US Treasury Department said on Friday that the sanctions have targeted shipping firms, oil companies, airlines and six Iranian banks.
On November 24, Iran and the world powers sealed a six-month Joint Plan of Action to lay the groundwork for the full resolution of the West’s decade-old dispute with Iran over its nuclear energy program. In exchange for Tehran’s confidence-building bid to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities, the Sextet of world powers agreed to lift some of the existing sanctions against Tehran and continue talks with the country to settle all problems between the two sides.
Earlier this month, the legal advisor of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team, Jamshid Momtaz, underlined that removal of all sanctions against Tehran will remain as an inseparable part of a permanent deal with the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany).
In December 2013, three top US senators, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), began circulating a draft of new Iran sanctions bill that violated the terms of the interim deal struck between Iran and the Sextet of world powers.
On July 20, the deadline for reaching a final agreement on Iran's future nuclear activities was postponed by four months—until November 24—to give more time for diplomatic efforts.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton in a joint statement after over two weeks of talks stressed the need for more efforts and time to reach an agreement with the world powers over Tehran's nuclear program.
The two officials who presided the negotiating sides, emphasized at the end of Iran-G5+1 negotiations that they have held different sessions in different forms and in a constructive atmosphere to reach a final comprehensive agreement.
Due to certain differences over some fundamental issues the two sides agreed to extend the Joint Plan of Action by November 24, they added.