US Can Snap Back Iran Sanctions in Case if Nuclear Deal Violated - Treasury

The United States will reinstate sanctions on Iran if the nuclear agreement is not implemented.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US will also maintain existing sanctions targeting Tehran’s support for terrorism, US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said in a statement on Tuesday.

“We retain the ability to snap back both US and international sanctions if Iran does not abide by the agreement reached today,” Lew said. “We will continue to impose and aggressively enforce sanctions to combat Iran’s support for terrorist groups, its fomenting of violence in the region, and its perpetration of human rights abuses,” Lew added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Iran and the P5+1 group of countries — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany — reached a final comprehensive agreement to ensure the peaceful nature of Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for removing sanctions.

However, Lew said sanctions against Iran would remain in place until Tehran’s compliance with the nuclear deal was verified.

“No new US nor international sanctions are being relieved today,” he said.

Opponents of the Iran deal, including Republicans in the US Congress and Israel, argue lifting sanctions and unfreezing $100 billion of Iran’s funds will empower the country and be spent to support terrorism.