U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday announced new sanctions against Iran following the latter’s downing of an American drone last week.
The new measures target the most senior leader of the Western Asian country, alongside military officials and Foreign Minister Javad Zarif.
President Trump announced the sanctions in the Oval Office, saying he had signed an executive order imposing “hard hitting” sanctions on Iran that will deny Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “and many others” access to financial instruments.
“Today’s actions follow a series of aggressive behaviors by the Iranian regime in recent weeks, including shooting down of US drones,” President Trump said.
“The supreme leader of Iran is one who ultimately is responsible of the hostile conduct of the regime. He’s respected within his country. His office oversees the regime’s most brutal instruments including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”
Iranian authorities shot down the U.S. drone on Monday, saying it had entered Iranian airspace.
On Thursday, President Trump told journalist they would “soon find out” whether he would authorize a retaliatory attack on Iran. He later said he found it “hard to believe” that the downing of the unmanned drone was intentional.
In his announcement of the sanctions on Monday, Trump said the move was a “strong and proportionate response.”
According to the U.S. leader, the sanctions “will deny the supreme leader and the supreme leaders office and those closely affiliated with him and the office access to key financial resources and support. The assets of Ayatollah Khomeini will not be spared from the sanctions.”
