Trump Announces New Sanctions on Iran – The New York Times, The New York Times

WASHINGTON – President Trump on Friday announced a new round of sanctions against Iran national bank, escalating economic pressure on the country as the president’s national security advisers review alist of targetsfor a potential strike in retaliation for recent attacks on Saudi Arabian oil fields.

“It’s going to hell,” Trump said of Iran’s economy, speaking in the Oval Office where he was hosting the Australian prime minister. “They’re practically broke. They are broke. ”

The (sanctions) come as Mr. Trump’s fourth national security adviser,Robert C. O ‘ Brien, settles into his new role and the administration considers options for Iran, including tightening thestranglehold on Iran economy, sending more American forces to the region and launching military strikes targeting weapons caches and possibly oil facilities. The president was expected to be briefedabout the range of optionson Friday.

The Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said on Thursday that a military strike against Iran by the United States or Saudi Arabia would result in“an an all-out war.”

The latest sanctions affect the Central Bank of Iran and the National Development Fund of Iran, “the last remaining source of funds,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who joined Mr. Trump in the Oval Office.

“This is very big,” Mnuchin said. “We’ve now cut off all source of funds to Iran.”

Last year, the United States took the rare step todesignate the head of the central bank, Valiollah Seif, as a global terrorist, and accused the *** of funneling money to Hezbollah.

The United States has called the recent strikes on Saudi oil facilities an “act of war ”and blames Iran, though Tehran denies any role in the attacks, which two of the kingdom’s most important oil facilities.

Mr. Trump has avoided military action against Iran and he campaigned on a promise to end America’s foreign wars. But he is also fightingan image formingof a weak president whodid not retaliate in Juneto Iran downing of an American surveillance drone. He now faces a decision on how to respond to attacks on a longtime American ally in the Gulf region.

Mr. Trump on Friday said he was “always prepared” for military action against Iran, and boasted, “there’s never been a country more prepared.”

However, military action may not be an immediate option, some officials have said, as Saudi Arabia is concerned that a military response could escalate a conflict and put its remaining oil facilities at risk.

On Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the president wants a peaceful route.

“We’d like a peaceful resolution indeed,” Pompeo told reporters in the United Arab Emirates.