The US Treasury Department slapped fresh sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program Wednesday, targeting five entities and one individual, just days before indirect talks between the two countries in Oman on April 12.

The move, announced a short while ago, hits the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and its subordinates—Iran Centrifuge Technology Company, Thorium Power Company, Pars Reactors Construction and Development Company, and Azarab Industries Co.—for allegedly advancing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons a “grave threat” to the US and global stability, vowing to “disrupt” its agenda. The sanctions, largely symbolic given existing US measures, signal pressure as President Trump pushes for talks. Trump, who earlier boasted of nations “kissing my ass” to negotiate, warned Iran of “great danger” if discussions fail, while Tehran insists on mediation, rejecting direct dialogue.

The US fears Iran is nearing a workable weapon, a concern heightened since Trump ditched the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, calling it the “worst ever.” That agreement, the JCPOA, curbed Iran’s uranium enrichment for sanctions relief, but its collapse—followed by failed 2021 Vienna talks under Biden—saw Iran amass enough fissile material for multiple bombs, per IAEA estimates.

Critics argue the US’s “maximum pressure” campaign, including these sanctions, risks escalating tensions further, especially with Israel’s Netanyahu pushing for military action. As talkins in Oman loom, the question lingers: will sanctions force Iran’s hand, or just fuel its defiance?