A White House spokesman on Monday declined to say why the Obama administration changed course and decided to delay sanctioning Iran for its illegal ballistic missile tests, but also rejected the idea that the sanctions were delayed because of pressure from Tehran.
“Ultimately we will impose those financial penalties, we’ll impose those sanctions, at a time and place of our choosing, when our experts believe that they will have maximum impact,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Monday. “And those decisions are not subject to negotiation by the Iranians — or anybody else for that matter.”
The administration was expected to levy new sanctions on companies and individuals involved in Tehran’s ballistic-missile program on Wednesday but then on Thursday did an about-face.
Iran has twice defied United Nations resolutions and tested ballistic missiles since reaching a separate landmark deal with six world powers, led by the U.S., to rein in its nuclear weapons program.
Earnest didn’t give any explanation or offer a new timeline for additional sanctions but said that new penalties “have been on the table” since Iran launched its first test in October.
American financial experts alone decide whom to sanction, how and when, Earnest said.
