Washington issues new Iran sanctions amid ‘positive’ nuclear talks
The Cradle, April 22, 2025 ─
The Treasury Department issued sanctions targeting an Iranian liquefied petroleum gas firm as part of Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’ campaign against Tehran.
The US Treasury Department issued new sanctions on 22 April targeting Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) magnate Asadoollah Emamjomeh and his corporate network amid ongoing talks with Tehran on its nuclear program.
Emamjomeh’s network is responsible for shipping hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Iranian LPG and crude oil to foreign markets, the Treasury said in a statement.
Also known as “cooking gas” or “canister gas,” LPG is used for cooking, heating, and powering vehicles.
According to the US Treasury, “Today’s action is being taken pursuant to the administration’s maximum pressure campaign.”
The new sanctions were imposed as reports emerged on Tuesday that nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington have been progressing “better than expected,” according to sources cited by Al-Araby al-Jadeed.
“We expect an agreement between Tehran and Washington within the next two months, possibly sooner. The Iranian–American negotiations are progressing better than expected,” the sources said.
“The Iranian side was surprised by the behavior of the American negotiator, showing seriousness, urgency, and a lack of non-nuclear related, unrealistic demands so far. There is US approval of the principle of Iran’s right to enrich uranium,” they added.
The sources went on to say that Iran “has presented suggestions to reassure the other party regarding the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.”
A second round of Omani-mediated nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington took place in Rome on 19 April, a week after the first round in Muscat.
The US and Israel claim Iran is seeking to develop a nuclear weapon. Tehran says its nuclear program is for civilian purposes and that developing a nuclear weapon would be un-Islamic.
Iran and the US signed an agreement in 2015, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), placing limits on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
During his first term in office, US President Donald Trump unilaterally abandoned the JCPOA and launched a “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign against Iran.
Trump restored the maximum pressure policy after returning to the White House in January. However, he has since indicated a willingness to negotiate a new deal to replace the 2015 JCPOA.
On 12 March, Trump sent a letter to Iran’s leadership, asking for negotiations to reach a new deal and threatening military action if Tehran refused.