The designations increase the economic pressure that the administration has applied to Iran since May 2018, when President Trump withdrew from an agreement that Iran had reached in 2015 with major world powers to limit its nuclear program. The United States reimposed major sanctions on Iran in November 2018, then in May ended exceptions for oil imports granted to eight governments. Iran also announced it had breached some limits imposed by the 2015 agreement on its nuclear program, which Tehran has said is for civilian purposes. The protests are the worst unrest in Iran since the Islamic Revolution that put Shiite clerics in charge of the country in 1979. Iranian leaders have said they would consider new talks only if the United States lifts sanctions.

Source: International New York Times December 11, 2019 18:45 UTC