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US Issues Fresh Sanctions Against Iran Over Nuclear Escalations

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Reuters)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Reuters)
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US Issues Fresh Sanctions Against Iran Over Nuclear Escalations

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Reuters)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Reuters)

The United States on Thursday issued fresh sanctions targeting Iran in response to “continued nuclear escalations,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

“Over the past month, Iran has announced steps to further expand its nuclear program in ways that have no credible peaceful purpose,” Blinken said.

He added: “We remain committed to never letting Iran obtain a nuclear weapon, and we are prepared to use all elements of national power to ensure that outcome.”

Thursday's action imposes sanctions on three companies the US accused of being involved in the transport of Iranian petroleum or petrochemical products, as well as 11 associated vessels, according to Reuters.

Earlier this month, the Group of Seven rich nations warned Iran against advancing its nuclear enrichment program and said they would be ready to enforce new measures if Tehran were to transfer ballistic missiles to Russia.

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French Candidates Bow Out in Bid to Block Far-right

French newly-elected MPs for the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) political party Emeric Salmon (2-R), Alexandre Loubet (C), Edwige Diaz (2-R) and Kevin Pfeffer (R) arrive for a welcoming day at the National Assembly in Paris, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)
French newly-elected MPs for the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) political party Emeric Salmon (2-R), Alexandre Loubet (C), Edwige Diaz (2-R) and Kevin Pfeffer (R) arrive for a welcoming day at the National Assembly in Paris, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)
TT
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French Candidates Bow Out in Bid to Block Far-right

French newly-elected MPs for the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) political party Emeric Salmon (2-R), Alexandre Loubet (C), Edwige Diaz (2-R) and Kevin Pfeffer (R) arrive for a welcoming day at the National Assembly in Paris, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)
French newly-elected MPs for the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) political party Emeric Salmon (2-R), Alexandre Loubet (C), Edwige Diaz (2-R) and Kevin Pfeffer (R) arrive for a welcoming day at the National Assembly in Paris, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)

Opponents of France's National Rally (RN) stepped up their bid to block the far-right party from power on Tuesday as more candidates said they would bow out of this weekend's run-off election to avoid splitting the anti-RN vote.

Some 180-plus candidates have confirmed they will not stand in Sunday's second-round for France's 577-seat national parliament, according to local media estimates. Others have until 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) to make their choice.

Marine Le Pen's RN came out well ahead in Sunday's first-round vote after President Emmanuel Macron's gamble on a snap election backfired, leaving his centrist camp in a lowly third place behind a hastily formed left-wing alliance.

But even before the maneuvering of the last 24 hours to create a "republican front" to block the anti-immigrant, Eurosceptic party, it was far from clear the RN could win the 289 seats needed for a majority.

Pollsters calculated the first round put the RN on track for anything between 250-300 seats. But that was before the tactical withdrawals and cross-party calls for voters to back whichever candidate was best placed to defeat the local RN rival, Reuters reported.
"The match is not over," the Socialist mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, told France 2. "We must mobilize all our forces."

The RN is hostile to further European Union integration and would cut funding to the EU. Human rights groups have raised concerns about how its "France first" and anti-migrant policies would apply to ethnic minorities, while economists question whether its hefty spending plans are fully funded.