US maximum pressure campaign against Iran to continue as before: Official

The United States’ recent de-listing of a Chinese tanker company from the long catalogue of its sanctions against Iran does not signal any policy change on the part of Washington, says a senior US administration official.

"Our maximum pressure campaign continues as before; we will sanction any sanctionable activity," the official told Reuters on Saturday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"This administrative de-listing should not be misinterpreted as a change in policy," the official added.

US President Donald Trump’s administration on September 25 blacklisted two units of giant Chinese tanker company Cosco, named after the northeastern Chinese Port of Dalian

On Friday, the US Treasury Department waived the bans it had imposed on COSCO Shipping Tanker (Dalian) Co for transporting Iranian oil.

It, however, said it continues to blacklist the second unit -- COSCO Shipping Tanker (Dalian) Seaman & Ship Management Co Ltd.

Washington has taken its pressure against Iran to unprecedented levels under Trump.

As part of the policy, the US left a historic nuclear accord with Iran and the 5+1 group in 2018, defying its multi-party nature and the fact that it has been ratified in the form of a United Nations Security Council resolution.

The US then returned the sanctions that were lifted under the deal, which is officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). It has also been forcing other countries to follow suit.

Most recently, Washington sanctioned the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and its Chief Ali Akbar Salehi.

AEOI Spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi, however, asserted on Thursday that the move bears no effect on the Islamic Republic’s resolve to continue its nuclear energy program.

ME