Trump administration tightens Iran sanctions, Tehran hits backWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Friday imposed sanctions on Iran,  which it said were just “initial steps” and said Washington would no longer turn a “blind eye” to Iran’s hostile actions. The sanctions on 25 individuals and entities were the opening salvo by President Donald Trump who has vowed a more aggressive policy against Tehran and came two days after the administration had put Iran ‘on notice’ following a ballistic missile test. “The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate Iran’s provocations that threaten our interests,” National Security Advisor Michael Flynn said. “The days of turning a blind eye to Iran’s hostile and belligerent actions toward the United States and the world community are over,” Flynn said in a White House statement. Suggesting that more concrete action could follow if Iran does not curb its ballistic missile program and continues support in regional proxy conflicts, a senior administration official said the latest sanctions were the initial steps in response to Iran’s “provocative behavior”. The administration was “undertaking a larger strategic review” of how it responds to Iran. Iran denounced the sanctions as illegal and said it would impose legal restrictions on American individuals and entities helping “regional terrorist groups”, state TV quoted a Foreign Ministry statement as saying. Those affected under the sanctions cannot access the U.S. financial system or deal with U.S. companies and are subject to secondary sanctions, meaning foreign companies and individuals are prohibited from dealing with them or risk being blacklisted by the United States. The White House said that while the sanctions were a reaction to recent events, they had been under consideration before. It added that a landmark 2015 deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program was not in the best interest of the United States. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the missile test did not violate the nuclear agreement. “It’s not a direct violation ... I think there is no question that it violates the spirit of that,” Spicer said in an interview with MSNBC. He said the nuclear agreement was a “sweetheart deal” for Iran. Citing a foreign ministry statement, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency said the missile program is “the undeniable and inalienable right of our nation under international law and the UN charter. Any foreign interference in this regard is a violation of international law.” The new designations stuck to areas that remain under sanctions even with the 2015 nuclear deal sealed between Iran and world powers in place, such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite military body that is powerful in Iranian politics and the economy, and Iran’s ballistic missile program. Zarif led Iran’s delegation at the nuclear negotiations in 2015. Among those affected by the sanctions were what it said was a Lebanon-based network run by the Revolutionary Guards. “The list is actually so targeted and comparatively mild, it leads one to surmise that it may have been a set of targets devised by the Obama administration, and was ready to go when Trump came into office,” said Adam Smith, former senior advisor to the Director of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. “As such, the real test for which way the Trump team will go on Iran may well be not this list release but the next one, whenever that occurs,” Smith said. The sanctions’ impact will be more symbolic than practical, especially as they do not affect the lifting of broader U.S. and international sanctions that took place under the nuclear deal. Also, few of the Iranian entities being targeted are likely to have U.S. assets that can be frozen, and U.S. companies, with few exceptions, are barred from doing business with Iran.     Meanwhile, the U.S. moved a Navy destroyer, the USS Cole, close to the Bab al-Mandab Strait off the coast of Yemen to protect waterways from Houthi militia aligned with Iran. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on Friday expressed understanding over the sanctions, but warned against conflating Sunday’s test with the nuclear deal. Earlier on Friday, Trump tweeted: “Iran is playing with fire”. U.S. Senator Mark Warner expressed support for the sanctions, adding: “I urge the Administration to bring clarity to their overall strategy towards Iran, and to refrain from ambiguous rhetoric – or provocative tweets – that will exacerbate efforts to confront those challenges.” Some of the entities sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury are based in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and China. Among those affected were companies, individuals and brokers the U.S. Treasury said support a trade network run by Iranian businessman Abdollah Asgharzadeh. Treasury said he supported Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, which the United States has said is a subsidiary of an Iranian entity that runs Iran’s ballistic missile program. Hasan Dehghan Ebrahimi, a Beirut-based official with the Revolutionary Guard’s Qods Force, which runs its operations abroad, was put under sanctions for acting on behalf of the Qods Force, Treasury said. Three Lebanese companies involved in waste collection, pharmaceuticals, and construction were also listed under the sanctions for being owned or controlled by Muhammad Abd-al-Amir Farhat, one of Ebrahimi’s employees. Treasury said he has facilitated millions of dollars in cash transfers to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Two of his employees and a company he manages were also sanctioned. Treasury said Ebrahimi and his employees used a Lebanon-based network to transfer funds, launder money, and conduct business. politicsNews
trump administration tighten iran sanctions tehran hits backwashington reuters the trump administration friday imposed sanctions iran said initial steps said washington would longer turn blind eye iran hostile actions the sanctions individuals entities opening salvo president donald trump vowed aggressive policy tehran came two days administration put iran notice following ballistic missile test the trump administration longer tolerate iran provocation threaten interests national security advisor michael flynn said the days turning blind eye iran hostile belligerent actions toward united states world community flynn said white house statement suggesting concrete action could follow iran curb ballistic missile program continues support regional proxy conflicts senior administration official said latest sanctions initial steps response iran provocative behavior the administration undertaking larger strategic review responds iran iran denounced sanctions illegal said would impose legal restrictions american individuals entities helping regional terrorist groups state tv quoted foreign ministry statement saying those affected sanctions access financial system deal companies subject secondary sanctions meaning foreign companies individuals prohibited dealing risk blacklisted united states the white house said sanctions reaction recent events consideration it added landmark deal curb iran nuclear program best interest united states white house spokesman sean spider said missile test violate nuclear agreement it direct violation i think question violates spirit spider said interview msnbc he said nuclear agreement sweetheart deal iran citing foreign ministry statement iran far news agency said missile program undeniable inalienable right nation international law un charter any foreign interference regard violation international the new designations stuck areas remain sanctions even nuclear deal sealed iran world powers place islamic revolutionary guard corps elite military body powerful iranian politics economy iran ballistic missile program serif led iran delegation nuclear negotiations among affected sanctions said network run revolutionary guards the list actually targeted comparatively mild leads one survive may set targets devised obama administration ready go trump came office said adam smith former senior advisor director treasury department office foreign assets control as real test way trump team go iran may well list release next one whenever occurs smith said the sanctions impact symbolic practical especially affect lifting broader international sanctions took place nuclear deal also iranian entities targeted likely assets frozen companies exceptions barred business iran meanwhile moved navy destroyer uss cole close bab strait coast yemen protect waterways south militia aligned iran german foreign minister sigma gabriel friday expressed understanding sanctions warned conflicting sunday test nuclear deal earlier friday trump tweeted iran playing fire senator mark warner expressed support sanctions adding i urge administration bring clarity overall strategy towards iran refrain ambiguous rhetoric provocative tweets exacerbated efforts confront some entities sanctioned treasury based united arab emirates lebanon china among affected companies individuals brokers treasury said support trade network run iranian businessman abdullah asgharzadeh treasury said supported shahid heat industrial group united states said subsidiary iranian entity runs iran ballistic missile program hasan meghan brahim official revolutionary guard gods force runs operations abroad put sanctions acting behalf gods force treasury said three lebanese companies involved waste collection pharmaceuticals construction also listed sanctions owned controlled muhammad format one brahim employees treasury said facilitated millions dollars cash transfers lebanese militant group hezbollah two employees company manages also sanctioned treasury said brahim employees used network transfer funds lander money conduct business politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Trump administration tightens Iran sanctions, Tehran hits backWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Friday imposed sanctions on Iran,  which it said were just “initial steps” and said Washington would no longer turn a “blind eye” to Iran’s hostile actions. The sanctions on 25 individuals and entities were the opening salvo by President Donald Trump who has vowed a more aggressive policy against Tehran and came two days after the administration had put Iran ‘on notice’ following a ballistic missile test. “The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate Iran’s provocations that threaten our interests,” National Security Advisor Michael Flynn said. “The days of turning a blind eye to Iran’s hostile and belligerent actions toward the United States and the world community are over,” Flynn said in a White House statement. Suggesting that more concrete action could follow if Iran does not curb its ballistic missile program and continues support in regional proxy conflicts, a senior administration official said the latest sanctions were the initial steps in response to Iran’s “provocative behavior”. The administration was “undertaking a larger strategic review” of how it responds to Iran. Iran denounced the sanctions as illegal and said it would impose legal restrictions on American individuals and entities helping “regional terrorist groups”, state TV quoted a Foreign Ministry statement as saying. Those affected under the sanctions cannot access the U.S. financial system or deal with U.S. companies and are subject to secondary sanctions, meaning foreign companies and individuals are prohibited from dealing with them or risk being blacklisted by the United States. The White House said that while the sanctions were a reaction to recent events, they had been under consideration before. It added that a landmark 2015 deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program was not in the best interest of the United States. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the missile test did not violate the nuclear agreement. “It’s not a direct violation ... I think there is no question that it violates the spirit of that,” Spicer said in an interview with MSNBC. He said the nuclear agreement was a “sweetheart deal” for Iran. Citing a foreign ministry statement, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency said the missile program is “the undeniable and inalienable right of our nation under international law and the UN charter. Any foreign interference in this regard is a violation of international law.” The new designations stuck to areas that remain under sanctions even with the 2015 nuclear deal sealed between Iran and world powers in place, such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite military body that is powerful in Iranian politics and the economy, and Iran’s ballistic missile program. Zarif led Iran’s delegation at the nuclear negotiations in 2015. Among those affected by the sanctions were what it said was a Lebanon-based network run by the Revolutionary Guards. “The list is actually so targeted and comparatively mild, it leads one to surmise that it may have been a set of targets devised by the Obama administration, and was ready to go when Trump came into office,” said Adam Smith, former senior advisor to the Director of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. “As such, the real test for which way the Trump team will go on Iran may well be not this list release but the next one, whenever that occurs,” Smith said. The sanctions’ impact will be more symbolic than practical, especially as they do not affect the lifting of broader U.S. and international sanctions that took place under the nuclear deal. Also, few of the Iranian entities being targeted are likely to have U.S. assets that can be frozen, and U.S. companies, with few exceptions, are barred from doing business with Iran.     Meanwhile, the U.S. moved a Navy destroyer, the USS Cole, close to the Bab al-Mandab Strait off the coast of Yemen to protect waterways from Houthi militia aligned with Iran. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on Friday expressed understanding over the sanctions, but warned against conflating Sunday’s test with the nuclear deal. Earlier on Friday, Trump tweeted: “Iran is playing with fire”. U.S. Senator Mark Warner expressed support for the sanctions, adding: “I urge the Administration to bring clarity to their overall strategy towards Iran, and to refrain from ambiguous rhetoric – or provocative tweets – that will exacerbate efforts to confront those challenges.” Some of the entities sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury are based in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and China. Among those affected were companies, individuals and brokers the U.S. Treasury said support a trade network run by Iranian businessman Abdollah Asgharzadeh. Treasury said he supported Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, which the United States has said is a subsidiary of an Iranian entity that runs Iran’s ballistic missile program. Hasan Dehghan Ebrahimi, a Beirut-based official with the Revolutionary Guard’s Qods Force, which runs its operations abroad, was put under sanctions for acting on behalf of the Qods Force, Treasury said. Three Lebanese companies involved in waste collection, pharmaceuticals, and construction were also listed under the sanctions for being owned or controlled by Muhammad Abd-al-Amir Farhat, one of Ebrahimi’s employees. Treasury said he has facilitated millions of dollars in cash transfers to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Two of his employees and a company he manages were also sanctioned. Treasury said Ebrahimi and his employees used a Lebanon-based network to transfer funds, launder money, and conduct business. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: trump administration tighten iran sanctions tehran hits backwashington reuters the trump administration friday imposed sanctions iran said initial steps said washington would longer turn blind eye iran hostile actions the sanctions individuals entities opening salvo president donald trump vowed aggressive policy tehran came two days administration put iran notice following ballistic missile test the trump administration longer tolerate iran provocation threaten interests national security advisor michael flynn said the days turning blind eye iran hostile belligerent actions toward united states world community flynn said white house statement suggesting concrete action could follow iran curb ballistic missile program continues support regional proxy conflicts senior administration official said latest sanctions initial steps response iran provocative behavior the administration undertaking larger strategic review responds iran iran denounced sanctions illegal said would impose legal restrictions american individuals entities helping regional terrorist groups state tv quoted foreign ministry statement saying those affected sanctions access financial system deal companies subject secondary sanctions meaning foreign companies individuals prohibited dealing risk blacklisted united states the white house said sanctions reaction recent events consideration it added landmark deal curb iran nuclear program best interest united states white house spokesman sean spider said missile test violate nuclear agreement it direct violation i think question violates spirit spider said interview msnbc he said nuclear agreement sweetheart deal iran citing foreign ministry statement iran far news agency said missile program undeniable inalienable right nation international law un charter any foreign interference regard violation international the new designations stuck areas remain sanctions even nuclear deal sealed iran world powers place islamic revolutionary guard corps elite military body powerful iranian politics economy iran ballistic missile program serif led iran delegation nuclear negotiations among affected sanctions said network run revolutionary guards the list actually targeted comparatively mild leads one survive may set targets devised obama administration ready go trump came office said adam smith former senior advisor director treasury department office foreign assets control as real test way trump team go iran may well list release next one whenever occurs smith said the sanctions impact symbolic practical especially affect lifting broader international sanctions took place nuclear deal also iranian entities targeted likely assets frozen companies exceptions barred business iran meanwhile moved navy destroyer uss cole close bab strait coast yemen protect waterways south militia aligned iran german foreign minister sigma gabriel friday expressed understanding sanctions warned conflicting sunday test nuclear deal earlier friday trump tweeted iran playing fire senator mark warner expressed support sanctions adding i urge administration bring clarity overall strategy towards iran refrain ambiguous rhetoric provocative tweets exacerbated efforts confront some entities sanctioned treasury based united arab emirates lebanon china among affected companies individuals brokers treasury said support trade network run iranian businessman abdullah asgharzadeh treasury said supported shahid heat industrial group united states said subsidiary iranian entity runs iran ballistic missile program hasan meghan brahim official revolutionary guard gods force runs operations abroad put sanctions acting behalf gods force treasury said three lebanese companies involved waste collection pharmaceuticals construction also listed sanctions owned controlled muhammad format one brahim employees treasury said facilitated millions dollars cash transfers lebanese militant group hezbollah two employees company manages also sanctioned treasury said brahim employees used network transfer funds lander money conduct business politicsnews