The Treasury sanctions are directed at more than a dozen people and companies based in China, India and the United Arab Emirates.

President Trump’s desire to engage in negotiations is a turnabout from his first term, when he often derided former President Barack Obama for agreeing to a nuclear deal with Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a presidential memorandum reimposing a tough policy on Iran meant to block the country from achieving a nuclear weapon and to limit its oil exports.