Amerika Serikat Kembali Sanksi Iran, Sasar Penjualan Minyak Mentah

Tehran, Iran/ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/Arman Taherian

JAKARTA - The United States on Thursday issued new sanctions related to Iran, targeting one individual and several entities including Chinese oil refineries for buying and processing Iranian crude oil.

This is Washington's fourth round of sanctions against Iran's oil sales since President Donald Trump said he would reimpose "maximum pressure" opaerations including efforts to suppress exports to zero.

Trump aims to stop Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons and funding militant groups. Meanwhile, China is the largest importer of Iranian oil.

As reported by Reuters on Thursday, March 20, the oil refining company targeted by the US Treasury sanctions is Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., Ltd., which is centered in China.

Tehran said its nuclear energy program was for peaceful purposes, while Western countries said enrichment of its uranium to near weapons levels had no logical civilian applications.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi emphasized that Iran would consider "the opportunity" as well as threats in a letter from US President Donald Trump urging new nuclear negotiations.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected Trump's letter last week by calling it a fraudulent letter. Khamenei said Trump's excessive demands would "enhanced ties of sanctions and increase pressure on Iran".

But Araqchi said Tehran was still reviewing the letter and was considering the reply.

"Trump's letter is more of a threat, but the letter claims to have a chance. We are paying attention to all the points contained in the letter and will consider threats and opportunities in our response," Araqchi said.

"There is an opportunity behind every threat," he said.

On Wednesday, Axios reported Trump's letter giving Iran a two-month deadline to reach a nuclear deal or face stricter sanctions under the US President's updated "maximum pressure" campaign.

Araqchi said Tehran would respond to Trump's letter in the coming days through the appropriate channels, rejecting all direct negotiations as long as Washington provides "pressure, threats, and sanctions".