US Extends National Emergency on Iran

The United States has extended the national emergency with respect to Iran, President Donald Trump informed in a letter the US House of Representatives speaker and the US Senate president. “Actions and policies of the government of Iran, including its development of ballistic missiles, [alleged] support for international terrorism and human rights abuses, continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the United States,” Trump contended on Monday, Sputnik reported. The US president added that for those reasons, he has “determined it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared with respect to Iran and to maintain in force comprehensive sanctions against Iran to respond to this threat.” Trump noted that the national emergency with respect to Iran that was declared on March 15, 1995, will remain in effect beyond March 15. While Washington lifted the sanctions on Iran consistent with the 2015 nuclear agreement commitments, comprehensive non-nuclear-related sanctions remain in place.