US Halts Intensification of Sanctions Against Iran: WSJ

The White House has instructed agencies to cease the imposition of new sanctions against Iran. The directives were sent out last week by White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

The report states that the instruction was conveyed to senior officials at the National Security Council, the Treasury Department, and the State Department. According to the publication, the main restrictions imposed by the US on Iranian oil and frozen Iranian assets will remain unchanged. Meanwhile, US officials are unclear whether the halt only pertains to new sanctions or also affects those already in place. Some senior political figures were reportedly unaware of the changes and were surprised by the sudden halt.

The White House has indicated that any new decisions will be announced by the relevant agencies. Some unnamed officials from the White House have stated that the suspension is related to further discussions about sanctions in the context of US-Iran negotiations concerning the nuclear program.

The publication adds that the US is trying not to unnecessarily provoke Iran during the negotiations.