Washington promised to practice "maximum pressure on Iran"

NEWS DESK

US National Security Adviser John Bolton from Singapore, attending the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASIAN), said:

"We consider that the government is facing real pressure and our goal is to put pressure on them very strongly and even exercise maximum pressure."

He added, "We will significantly increase the application of sanctions,"

The latest package was considered the harshest sanctions to date, aimed at drastically cutting Iran's oil exports and depriving Iran's banks of access to international financial markets.

The other parties to the nuclear deal signed in 2015 - Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia - have strongly opposed re-imposing sanctions and vowed to work to save it.

He added "There is no doubt that Iran is trying to find ways to avoid sanctions in the oil sector and financial markets," adding "Most of the European countries have gone through a state of denial and anger, while others have accepted that we are no longer a party to the deal."

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ANHA