US orders Iran to make sweeping changes or face severe sanctions

The United States has ordered Iran to make sweeping changes, such as dropping its nuclear program and pulling out of the Syrian civil war, or face tough economic sanctions, media outlets reported Monday.

Weeks after Washington’s exit from the 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran, US President Donald Trump’s administration threated to impose “the strongest sanctions in history” on Tehran, and vowed to “crush” Iranian operatives overseas.

Under the changes demanded by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Iran will be forced to cut back its military and political influence throughout the Middle East.

However, Pompeo added that Washington will be willing to lift sanctions, in case of “tangible shifts” seen in Iranian policies, otherwise sanctions will “grow more painful”.”

Last Wednesday, Saudi Arabia announced support for the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.

 The Kingdom also voiced its support towards reinstating economic sanctions against Tehran, which were suspended under the nuclear deal agreed on in 2015, a statement on the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.

The 2015 international nuclear agreement – which included the US, five other countries and Iran – lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for Tehran limiting its nuclear program. The deal was aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb.