“Three pieces to reducing the risk of terror from the Iranians. First is the one that we’ve engaged in to deny them wealth and resources…Second piece is diplomatic in addition to those economic sanctions that will come in the days ahead. The diplomatic effort is to build out isolation against the regime…and raise the cost for their malign activity. Then the third piece I’d describe is tactical and operational. We need to make sure that American soldiers who are in the region or, frankly, in other places where Iran has threatened to strike too – in Europe and even any risk here to the homeland – to make sure that we’ve done all that we can to prepare and harden those facilities. President Trump has given us the greenlight to do those things, and we’ve been moving in that direction for the past months.”

– Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, Interview with Ben Shapiro, January 9,2020

SECRETARY POMPEO AND TREASURY SECRETARY MNUCHIN ANNOUNCED INTENSIFIED SANCTIONS ON IRAN AT JOINT WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING

First, the President is issuing an executive order authorizing the imposition of additional sanctions against any individual owning, operating, trading with, or assisting sectors of the Iranian economy, including construction, manufacturing, textiles, and mining.

Second, we are announcing 17 specific sanctions against Iran’s largest steel and iron manufacturers, three Seychelles-based entities, and a vessel involved in the transfer of products. As a result of these actions, we will cut off billions of dollars of support to the Iranian regime, and we will continue our enforcement of other entities.

Third, we are taking action against eight senior Iranian officials who advanced the regime’s destabilizing activity and were involved in Tuesday’s ballistic missile strike.

Today’s sanctions are part of our commitment to stop the Iranian regime’s global support for terrorism. The President has been very clear: We will continue to apply economic sanctions until Iran stops its terrorist activities and commit that it will never have nuclear weapons.

The goal of our campaign is to deny the regime the resources to conduct its destructive foreign policy. We want Iran to simply behave like a normal nation. We believe the sanctions that we impose today further that strategic objective.

Our campaign is composed of diplomatic, economic components that have deprived the regime of billions in revenue the regime has used to fuel death and destruction across the Middle East and all across the world.

Finally, I want to reiterate President Trump’s concern for Americans and dual national citizens detained inside of Iran. Iran knows these individuals have committed no crime. They know the charges against them are fake. And we will do all that we can to get each of them returned home safely to their families.

Please see the press statement and Department of Treasury for more information, and the full transcript of the briefing here.

STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP REGARDING EXECUTIVE ORDER TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO ADDITIONAL SECTORS OF IRAN

I am holding the Iranian regime responsible for attacks against United States personnel and interests by denying it substantial revenue that may be used to fund and support its nuclear program, missile development, terrorism and terrorist proxy networks, and malign regional influence.

I have issued an Executive Order authorizing the imposition of sanctions against any individual or entity operating in the construction, manufacturing, textiles, or mining sectors of the Iranian economy or anyone assisting those who engage in this sanctioned conduct.

This order will have a major impact on the Iranian economy, authorizing powerful secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions. Iran continues to be the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism.

The Iranian regime has threatened United States military service members, diplomats, and civilians, as well as the citizens and interests of our allies and partners, through military force and proxy groups.

The United States will continue to counter the Iranian regime’s destructive and destabilizing behavior. Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. These punishing economic sanctions will remain until the Iranian regime changes its behavior.

The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it.

For additional information please see the White House statement here.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP’S REMARKS ON JANUARY 8, 2020:

“No Americans were harmed in last night’s attack by the Iranian regime. We suffered no casualties, all of our soldiers are safe, and only minimal damage was sustained at our military bases…No American or Iraqi lives were lost.”

“Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions and end its support for terrorism. The time has come for the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, and China to recognize this reality. They must now break away from the remnants of the Iran deal – or JCPOA – and we must all work together toward making a deal with Iran that makes the world a safer and more peaceful place. We must also make a deal that allows Iran to thrive and prosper, and take advantage of its enormous untapped potential.”

“I am going to ask NATO to become much more involved in the Middle East process.”

“To the people and leaders of Iran: We want you to have a future and a great future — one that you deserve, one of prosperity at home, and harmony with the nations of the world. The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it.”

For additional information please see the Fact Sheet on Iranian Strikes in Iraq here.

ADDITIONAL STATE DEPARTMENT-LED METALS ACTIONS:

The Iranian regime exploits revenue from its metals industry to fund its destabilizing activities. Accordingly, the Department of State is sanctioning Pamchel Trading (Beijing) Co., Ltd. pursuant to section 1245 the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act (IFCA) for transferring 29,000 metric tons of steel from an Iranian firm that is a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

We are also making a second announcement with regard to IFCA. IFCA Section 1245, requires sanctions on persons (entities and individuals) who knowingly sell, supply, or transfer, directly or indirectly, to or from Iran, raw or semi-finished metals, when such metals are (1) to be used in connection with the energy, shipping, or shipbuilding sectors of Iran or any sector of the economy of Iran determined to be controlled directly or indirectly by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, such as the construction sector; (2) are sold, supplied or transferred to or from an Iranian person included on the SDN List; or (3) are determined to be used in connection with the nuclear, military, or ballistic missile programs of Iran. Today, we are announcing that the Secretary of State has decided that “raw or semi-finished metals” under IFCA 1245 section (d) includes, but is not limited to, 74 metals (including all types of such materials and all alloys or compounds containing such materials). This decision clarifies for foreign stakeholders that supplying, selling, or transferring raw or semi-finished forms of these 74 metals is sanctionable if certain other conditions are met. We are making this announcement to send a clear signal to foreign counterparts about the importance of avoiding selling, suppling, or transferring metals to or from Iran, and thus the Department is clarifying that the IFCA 1245 provision “raw or semi-finished metals” includes but is not limited to 74 metals including all types of such materials and all alloys or compounds containing such materials.‎

The 74 metals are: Aluminum, Americium, Antimony, Barium, Beryllium, Bismuth, Boron, Cadmium, Calcium, Cerium, Cesium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Dysprosium, Erbium, Europium, Gallium, Gadolinium, Germanium, Gold, Hafnium, Hastelloy, Inconel, Indium, Iridium, Iron, Lanthanum, Lithium, Lead, Lutetium, Manganese, Magnesium, Mercury, Molybdenum, Monel, Neodymium, Neptunium, Nickel, Niobium, Osmium, Palladium, Platinum, Plutonium, Polonium, Potassium, Praseodymium, Promethium, Radium, Rhenium, Rhodium, Ruthenium, Samarium, Scandium, Silicon, Silver, Sodium, Steels, Strontium, Tantalum, Technetium, Tellurium, Terbium, Thallium, Thorium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Uranium, Vanadium, Ytterbium, Yttrium, Zinc, and Zirconium.