US threatens sanctions as a result of Iran-Pakistan deal

April 24, 2024 3:42 am

The US has threatened that trade deals between Iran and Pakistan are at risk of major sanctions. In a statement on Tuesday (April 23), the US State Department issued such a warning regarding the three-day visit of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi to Pakistan.

Without naming Pakistan in the statement, a State Department spokesman said, “We advise everyone that any country that does business with Iran is at risk of major sanctions from Washington.”

While commenting on Islamabad’s trade and economic relations with Washington, the spokesman said, the US is Pakistan’s largest export market and one of its largest investors.

The spokesperson also said that the US has been the leading investor in Pakistan for the past 20 years. We always want Pakistan to achieve economic success and we are committed to taking our business partnership forward.

The spokesman pointed to the ban considering Islamabad’s closeness to Tehran and bilateral agreements signed between the two countries during President Raisi’s three-day visit.

The US has made such a statement at an important time in the history of Pakistan. When the two countries announced to advance the fraternal relations of the two countries by welcoming the President of Iran in Islamabad.

Last January, the two countries clashed over the border situation. Both countries have carried out counter-missile attacks on both continents for harboring militants.

The statement also raised the issue of Tehran’s image due to the recent conflict with Israel after the attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus.

Meanwhile, Tehran and Islamabad have signed a total of eight agreements in various fields including trade, science, technology, agriculture, health, culture and judicial affairs to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. The agreements were signed by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iran’s President Raisi.