Iran

Iran started its peaceful nuclear program in 1950. Experts immediately questioned why they would spend money on nuclear instead of building refineries to produce gasoline and jet fuel using their enormous oil deposits. As time passed Iran repeatedly used the threat of building a bomb to get concessions in trade areas. President Trump did not fear the threat and put severe sanctions on Iran. President Trump ended U.S. participation in the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran in May 2018, and promised to snap back U.S. nuclear sanctions, which were suspended in January 2016. Between 2018 and 2021, the Trump administration imposed more than 1,500 sanctions on Iran or on foreign companies or individuals who did business with Iran. They targeted big institutions, such as the supreme leader’s office, the Revolutionary Guards and the Central Bank, as well as individuals. Among those sanctions were government and judicial officials, members of the military and proxy militias, scientists and manufacturers of military equipment, banks and businesses, foundations, and shipping and trading companies. The sanctions were a key component of Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign after he withdrew the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Sanctions were associated with one or more of five issues: On Fedruary18, 2021 Biden rescinded all of Trumps sanctions on Iran. This allowed Iran to earn billions from oil sales plus billions more in a prisoner swap. Iran supports Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis and all three are now attacking Israel.