US President Barack Obama has formally renewed the National Emergency Act with respect to Iran which keeps sanctions against the Islamic Republic in place for at least one more year.
In a letter to Congress on Wednesday, Obama described some actions and policies of the Iranian government as serious threats to US national security, foreign policy, and economy.
Since 1995, American presidents have annually extended the Iran sanctions.
The latest move comes four months after Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany secured an interim deal on Tehran’s nuclear energy program.
Iran and the six world powers – the United States, China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany – clinched an interim nuclear deal in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 24, 2013. The deal took effect on January 20.
The agreement was seen as part of Iran’s confidence building measures to resolve more than a decade-long standoff with the West.
The next round of high-level talks between Iran and the six world powers is to be held in Vienna on March 17. The two sides are working toward a final comprehensive deal.
