Mehr News Agency – Trump administration is planning to sanction Iranian state TV again under the pretext of its role in crackdown of protesters, the British daily ‘the Guardian’ reported on Monday, January 8.
Iran’s radio and television organization (IRIB) has not been sanctioned since 2013 after both Barack Obama and Donald Trump have signed presidential waivers every 180 days to suspend the sanctions against Iran. The Guardian reported that Trump administration is planning not to sign the waiver in regards to the state broadcaster when it comes up for renewal at the end of January, meaning the sanction will become active.
According to the Guardian report “a source familiar with decision-making in Washington in relation to the IRIB sanctions said Trump was persuaded not to impose restrictions on the Iranian central bank, in case it caused problems for ordinary people, but instead to target specific organizations such as state TV.” The Guardian report went on to point out “the Iranian embassy in London had written to regular Ofcom, complaining that some Persian-language television networks in the UK had been encouraging protesters to riot and take arms.”
This move comes after the US president, regularly posted tweets at the time of the recent unrest declaring his government support for the continuation of the riots.
