(VOVWORLD) - US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday that targets Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei and associates with additional financial sanctions following Iran’s downing of a US drone last week.
 US President Donald Trump signs the order imposing sanctions on Iran on May 8, 2019 (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
Trump said the sanctions can last one day or several years depending on Iran’s response.
Trump said he had offered a negotiation with Iran’s leaders, but Tehran turned it down requesting that Washington terminate the sanctions. The US doesn’t want conflict or Iran to possess nuclear weapons, he added.
The same day, a US official said Washington will freeze billions of dollars more in Iranian assets and Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will be targeted with sanctions later this week.