UANI Statement on U.S. Banning Purchase of Iranian Oil

(New York, N.Y.) – United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) Chairman Senator Joseph Lieberman and CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace released the following joint statement today regarding the expiration of waivers on the purchase of Iranian oil, known as significant reduction exemptions (SREs), which have allowed Greece, Italy, Taiwan, China, India, Turkey, Japan and the Republic of Korea to continue buying from Tehran without facing U.S. sanctions.

“UANI applauds today’s announcement by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the Trump Administration will allow the significant reduction exemptions to fully expire as of May 2. Beginning next month, any nation caught buying oil from Iran will be subject to U.S. sanctions. This is a necessary step in the maximum pressure campaign against Iran’s malign behavior.
 
“Thanks to the Trump Administration’s resolve, Tehran will soon find it even more difficult to continue its role as a bad actor on the global stage.
 
“Sanctions must be tightly enforced and additional measures should also be initiated, including a prohibition on the purchase of Iranian petrochemicals and a full disconnection of Iranian banks by SWIFT. Cutting off Iran’s access to foreign trade and international banking will help to de-fund Iran’s terrorist infrastructure.
 
“President Trump, Secretary Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton continue to demonstrate the leadership required to force a change in the regime’s behavior, and how the rest of the world views and engages with Iran, which will have a direct and meaningful impact on the security of our nation.”