Bloomberg reported on December 9 that according to people familiar with the matter, President-elect Biden’s national security team plans to conduct a comprehensive review and evaluation of the sanctions action department of the U.S. Treasury Department, covering all aspects of current plans, personnel and budgets.
Under Trump, the United States imposed a series of sanctions on companies, individuals and even tankers related to Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Russia, China and other countries, which are usually unilateral, the report said.
Biden believes that the Trump administration’s frequent unilateral sanctions have confused both opponents and allies because “sanctions are most effective only if they are multilaterally imposed,” according to people familiar with the matter.
Earlier, Iran’s state media IPR News Agency released on December 6 that the Iranian government had instructed the Ministry of Oil to expand the construction of oil production facilities and the sale of crude oil to full capacity within three months, in order to “coping with the possible relaxation of sanctions against Iraq after U.S. President-elect Biden takes office”.
Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif said that Iran will resume full compliance with the nuclear agreement immediately after the incoming Biden administration of the United States proved its goodwill by lifting all sanctions.
Several Russian political scientists interviewed by the Russian Satellite News Agency said last month that Biden may impose new sanctions on Russia, but in the long run, the opportunity for improving Russian-US relations is higher than that of Trump’s administration.
Russian President Putin responded last month that he did not congratulate Biden on his victory.
He did not congratulate President-elect Biden when current U.S. President Trump refused to admit defeat. It was not “ulterior motives”, but “must follow formal procedures in accordance with established practice and legal standards”.
