The Biden administration said Wednesday it will levy new sanctions against 15 individuals and entities allegedly linked to the illicit sale and shipment of Iranian oil. The Treasury Department cited a 2018 executive order by then-President Donald Trump as the basis for the penalties. That’s despite Joe Biden’s criticism of Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy against Iran during the 2020 presidential campaign. This comes after days of indirect talks in Qatar between Iranian and U.S. diplomats failed to reach a deal to have the United States rejoin the Iran nuclear deal, the landmark 2015 agreement that President Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from in 2018. Iran’s foreign minister said after the failed talks his nation stands willing to scale back its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian: “The American side should guarantee that Iran will fully benefit from a 2015 revived deal. So far, the American side has not been able to give such assurances.”

Iran says President Biden could rejoin the Iran nuclear deal at any time via executive order.