ISLAMABAD (PEN) : US President Donald Trump has announced the first set of sanctions on Iran after taking office. The Trump administration imposed sanctions on a company linked to the oil business, and the President also signed orders imposing sanctions on staff of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and banning transgender women from participating in women’s sports.
According to a report by Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera, the US Department of Treasury announced these sanctions on Thursday, stating that the aim was to target Iran’s “oil network.”
The measures target companies, ships, and individuals already under US sanctions, with the Biden administration having issued similar orders during its term to enforce existing sanctions. US officials accused Iran of using the revenue from its oil exports to fund its nuclear program.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bassett stated that the Iranian government is focusing its oil revenue on advancing its nuclear program, producing lethal ballistic missiles and drones, and supporting regional terrorist proxy groups.
The United States is determined to aggressively target any attempts by Iran to fund these harmful activities. Iran has long rejected the sanctions and efforts to seize its oil exports, calling them “piracy.” Individuals associated with the Iranian company under US sanctions will not be allowed to travel to the United States, and the company’s ships are also subject to sanctions.
The Treasury Department stated that the sanctions include entities and individuals from multiple jurisdictions, including China, India, and the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, the US President imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) after withdrawing from the UN-backed institution.
As a result of the President’s decision, financial and visa sanctions will be imposed on ICC staff and their families who are involved in investigations into US citizens and its allies. This decision follows the issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and others.
Additionally, President Trump signed an executive order banning transgender women from participating in women’s sports competitions. According to Al Jazeera, Donald Trump clarified that the fight for women’s athlete rights has now ended.
Under the executive order signed on Wednesday, the federal government will withhold funding from educational institutions that allow transgender girls and women to participate in women’s sports and use women’s locker rooms.
The order also directs government bodies to promote gender-specific women’s sports categories within international organizations and to engage representatives from major athletic organizations and governing bodies to implement policies that are fair and safe for female athletes.
President Trump referred to a 1972 law, saying, “We are keeping every school that receives taxpayer dollars on notice. If you allow men to take over women’s sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX, and your federal funding will be at risk.”
Declaring the end of the fight against women’s sports, Trump said his administration would not allow men to beat or attack female athletes. “We won’t allow it, and it’s going to end, it’s ending now, and no one will be able to do anything about it because when I speak, we speak with authority.”
Trump also stated that he would urge the International Olympic Committee, which has left the issue of transgender participation in sports to international governing bodies, to clearly support gender-based participation before the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The US President said they want to change everything related to the Olympics and this “ridiculous” issue.
