The New Embargo: Iran Initiates Blockade of U.S. Imports

Iran state-media outlets are reporting that Iran has begun to blockade imports from the United States.

The news comes just months after the White House and the Ayatollah’s regime reached an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, which the Obama administration hoped would help modify the Islamic Republic’s temperament towards the United States.

Iran’s state-run Press TV reports that Reza Nematzadeh, the regime’s Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, ordered the blockade on Thursday for U.S. consumer products. Nematzadeh said his mandate came down from Iranian dictator Ali Khamenei, who directed the blockade in a recent letter to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

“Ayatollah Khamenei in his letter emphasized that the implementation of the JCPOA must lead to the promotion of the resistance economy – a self-dependent economy that he said must be created a few years ago to withstand the sanctions,” the report read.

In a statement delivered on his website, the Ayatollah said of the blockade on Sunday: “be watchful about irregular imports after lifting sanctions and seriously avoid importing consumer goods from the United States.”

On Saturday, Nematzadeh told state-media: “We will implement the blockade on imports of American goods in a directive.”

Iran’s blockade of U.S. goods follows a similar strategy employed by the Castro regime in Cuba, which has decided to continue its blockade of American products following reengagement.

Yesterday, Iran celebrated the anniversary of the Iran hostage crisis, when regime supporters overtook the American embassy in Tehran and held over 60 American hostages for 444 days.

During the celebrations, thousands took the streets in Tehran, burning American flags and shouting “Death To America.”

In recent weeks, Iran detained two more American citizens on unclear charges. Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi and Lebanese-American Nizar Zakka have been taken hostage by regime operatives. At least six American citizens now sit in Iranian prisons on what American officials are calling trumped up charges.

There are also reports that Iran has begun engaging in a cyber-offensive against the United States, with its Revolutionary Guard aggressively targeting U.S. officials and attempting to steal their personal information.