In this file photo taken on Feb. 20, 2010, Iran's state-owned car manufacturer Iran Khodro unveils in Tehran for the home market the Peugeot 207i, a locally built version of the French automobile firm's 207 model. (AFP Photo)
WASHINGTON, July 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. sanctions on Iran will snap back in August and November, a U.S. senior official said Monday, a move after American withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.
At a press briefing, Brian Hook, director of policy planning for the State Department, said "the first part of our sanctions will snap back on August 6. These sanctions will include targeting Iran's automotive sector, trade in gold, and other key metals."
"The remaining sanctions will snap back on November 4. These sanctions will include targeting Iran's energy sector and petroleum-related transactions, and transactions with the Central Bank of Iran," he added.
Following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to quit the historic Iran nuclear pact on May 8, the United States vowed to re-impose sanctions lifted under the accord against Iran and inflict punishments like secondary sanctions on nations that have business links with the country.
Washington's withdrawal from the landmark Iran nuclear deal was criticized across the world. Some of its major European allies have been working to prevent the 2015 deal from falling apart.
A senior official from Iran's Foreign Ministry said recently that European countries will soon offer a package to protect Iran's interests in accordance with the 2015 deal, official IRNA news agency reported.