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Falcons QB Matt Ryan wins NFL MVP, Offensive Player of Year
HOUSTON — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was named NFL MVP at Saturday night’s NFL Honors awards show, capping a career-best season in which he guided the team to its first Super Bowl appearance since 1999.
Ryan, 31, received 25 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady finished second with 10 votes, followed by Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott and Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, who each received six.
Ryan also won the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year award Saturday, beating Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers 15½ votes to 11. He passed for 4,944 passing yards with 38 touchdowns and only seven interceptions and led the NFL with a 117.1 passer rating, helping the Falcons score a league-high 540 points.
Prescott named top rookie, thanks other 31 teams
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott edged rookie teammate Ezekiel Elliott for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and the Raiders’ Khalil Mack capped his stellar season with Defensive Player of the Year.
NFL MVP Matt Ryan has reached elite status, but new challenge awaits
Being named MVP cemented Matt Ryan’s spot among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks; now his challenge will be to make the Falcons an annual title contender.
Tomlinson, Warner among 7-person Hall class
The 2017 class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame is set, with LaDainian Tomlinson, Kurt Warner, Jason Taylor, Terrell Davis, Morten Andersen, Jerry Jones and Kenny Easley making it.
« I just want to say thank you, and this is an incredible honor for me, » Ryan said in a video that was shown during the awards show (he did not attend). « Obviously, there are so many other great candidates and players who had amazing seasons. I want to thank all of my teammates; obviously without them, none of this is possible. We’ve had so many guys on our team make great plays and have great seasons for us, so thank you to those guys. »
The third overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, Ryan guided the Falcons to an 11-5 record, the NFC South title and their first playoff berth since the 2012 season.
It marked the second consecutive year a quarterback from the NFC South was named MVP, following Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers.
« If you’re looking at consistency this year, I think you can talk about Matt Ryan, » Falcons owner Arthur Blank said. « I think a lot of that’s coming out of last year. I think that I would say that it’s due to probably the offseason work that he put in himself personally, to some commitments he made on the West Coast to support his training, his offseason programming. I think he and [offensive coordinator] Kyle Shanahan have been on a much better communication path than they were in their first year. I think Matt’s understanding of the system is certainly greater than it had been in Year 1.
« I think his ability to feel comfortable turning his back to the line of scrimmage, partly due to [center] Alex Mack, partly due to the offensive line withstanding their role staying together and carrying back when releasing the ball. I think all of that is critical. His ability to pass on the move and do it in an accurate fashion, all of that’s gotten much better. That started from day one and has continued throughout the season. »
Ryan, a four-time Pro Bowler, was considered to be the front-runner for the MVP award after being named first-team All-Pro, ahead of Super Bowl counterpart and two-time MVP Brady. As he evolved into the lead MVP candidate, Ryan maintained a team-oriented approach whenever he discussed the possibility of achieving the league’s highest individual honor.
In his ninth season, Ryan set franchise single-season records in passing yards and touchdowns as well as completion percentage (69.9), passer rating (117.1), and passes of 25-plus yards (42). He also set a franchise single-game record with 503 passing yards in a 48-33 victory over Carolina. Ryan completed 373 of 534 passes through 16 games while throwing just seven interceptions.
He established an NFL first, according to Elias Sports Bureau, by completing touchdown passes to 13 targets during the regular season. Ryan completed passes to 15 receivers overall.
During a four-game winning streak to end the season, Ryan threw 11 touchdowns with no interceptions. He entered the season intent on cutting down turnovers after 21 miscues in 2015 (16 interceptions, five lost fumbles).
Ryan attributed his success to growth in Year 2 of Shanahan’s offensive scheme, as the Falcons boasted the league’s top-scoring offense at 33.8 points per game. The Falcons also helped build a stronger foundation around Ryan with the signing of four-time Pro Bowl center Mack along with the additions of wide receivers Mohamed Sanu and Taylor Gabriel and rookie tight end Austin Hooper. He already had a solid base with All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones and the running back tandem of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman.
Appeals Court Rejects Request to Immediately Restore Travel Ban
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Top Five Content Marketing Trends for 2017 – JOSIC
Content marketing continues to evolve yet the purpose remains the same; drive site traffic, which should lead to an action or sales conversion. While this may sound simple in theory, and there is no doubt it’s effective, it’s getting more and more difficult with the amount of noise out there competing for your target market. Making a true impact takes creativity.
To stay ahead of the competition, read and implement some of the following trends in your content marketing campaigns this year:
1. Data-Driven Content
How do you know what content works best for your business? When should you publish it? Which delivery channels are performing the best for your audience? These are just some of the questions you should be asking yourself when preparing your campaigns, and the answers shouldn’t be guesses. There is an unreal amount of data available for you to analyze, test and optimize your campaigns to ensure the highest impact possible. Gather, interpret and act on all the data available to you.
2. Video
Video is taking over. Reports state that 74% of internet traffic in 2017 will be video driven. Videos in an email campaign lead to 200-300% higher click-through-rates. Audiences want something that stands out, pulls them in, and connects them—video and interactive content will help your marketing efforts stand above the rest. If you’re not taking advantage of video marketing, you can’t start fast enough!
3. Personalization and Segmentation
Content personalization boosts relevancy and is becoming a must for catching the attention of your target market to show them that you understand and care about their needs. Social listening can provide real-time access to what your audience is talking about, sharing, and consuming. When thinking about content development, you need to focus on publishing content that speaks directly to the’ pain points of your audience.
4. Email Marketing (it’s still effective folks)
Probably due to the fact that it’s been around for so long, email marketing is often overlooked yet remains one of the most powerful marketing channels available. Email is especially useful in the B2B market—to reach prospects, share information, and, because the nature of the industry has longer buying cycles, to nurture business relationships. When preparing your email campaigns, always keep your campaign goals in mind and seriously, mix in some videos!
5. Research/Original Data
Out of 10 popular content types, research/original data performed best for companies, according to 18 percent of content marketers surveyed. Infographics also remain a hot visual content marketing trend. The key is to find and feature data or information that others may not have, or at least present it differently. Think about your target audience, what data would they find useful or interesting?
New trends and technology innovations will continue to emerge in content marketing, signup to our newsletter to keep informed. Any major trends missed? Let us know in the comments below.
PM360 Announces Winners Of 2016 Pharma Choice Awards
New York, NY February 05, 2017
PM360, a leading health-marketing industry trade magazine, has announced the winners of their annual Pharma Choice Awards, which recognize the best healthcare creative campaigns and initiatives in 14 categories: Animal Health, App, Consumer Website, DTC/DTP, Multichannel, Other, Philanthropic, Professional Print Campaign, Professional Website, Sales Aid, Self-promotion, Social Media, Unbranded, and Video. The 42 winners are featured in the January 2017 issue of PM360. And can be viewed online at https://www.pm360online.com/2016-pm360-pharma-choice-award-winners.
Since 2009, the PM360 Pharma Choice awards have recognized outstanding achievement and creativity in healthcare marketing. PM360 readers act as judges for the entries submitted by their peers. All submissions are placed online where readers vote for their favorites based on content, format, imagination, influence on the industry, and overall quality. This year more than 7,000 votes were cast to decide the winners.
“Our Pharma Choice Awards continue to be very popular not just because they allow everyone in the industry to have some fun and vote on their favorite campaigns from the past year,” says Anna Stashower, CEO and Publisher of PM360, “but because people take great pride in winning an award based on the approval of their peers. Plus, seeing the winners provides a lot of inspiration for people as they get back to work in the New Year ready to hit the ground running.”
A Gold, Silver, and Bronze award is given to the top three vote-getters in each of the 14 distinct categories. Additionally, the overall top three vote-getters receive special recognition by appearing on the cover of the January 2017 issue. This year the top honors went to MediMedia Pharma Solutions’ “Simplifying Access and Reimbursement” Professional Campaign done with Amgen, Intouch Solutions’ “Restylane USA Redesign: Showcasing Results First” Consumer Website done with Galderma, and Publicis Health Media + Digitas Health LifeBrands’ “eyelove®” Multichannel Campaign done with Shire.
This year’s PM360 Pharma Choice winners include:
ANIMAL HEALTH
GOLD: “Camouflage” for HEARTGARD® Plus. Agency: Saatchi Saatchi Wellness
ANIMAL HEALTH
SILVER: “No Bite Is Right Website” for Bayer Canada, Animal Health. Agency: Brightworks Interactive Marketing
ANIMAL HEALTH
BRONZE: “WITNESS Heartworm Diagnostic Test Kit Journal Ad” for Zoetis. Agency: Excitant Healthcare Advertising
APP
GOLD: “DALIRESP IVA” for AstraZeneca. Agency: AbelsonTaylor
APP
SILVER: “Mobile Gaming Scientific AppU” for Abbott Healthcare. Agency: Indegene Private Limited
APP
BRONZE: “BeLive” for Pfizer. Agency: Sudler Worldwide
CONSUMER WEBSITE
GOLD: “Restylane USA Redesign: Showcasing Results First” for Galderma. Agency: Intouch Solutions
CONSUMER WEBSITE
SILVER: EMVERM “Don’t Toy With Pinworm” Consumer Website for IMPAX Laboratories. Agency: RevHealth, LLC
CONSUMER WEBSITE
BRONZE: “Brovana.com Website” for Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Agency: Heartbeat Ideas
DTC/DTP
GOLD: “The Morquio A Quest” for BioMarin. Agency: JUICE Pharma Worldwide
DTC/DTP
SILVER: “LC-1536: A Sure Thing” for Roche Diagnostics. Agency: HYC Health
DTC/DTP
BRONZE: “TECFIDERA Perspectives” for Biogen. Agency: CDMiConnect
MULTICHANNEL
GOLD: “eyelove®” for Shire. Agencies: Publicis Health Media + Digitas Health LifeBrands
MULTICHANNEL
SILVER: “Adaptable” for United Therapeutics. Agency: Calcium
MULTICHANNEL
BRONZE: “Pap+HPV Together™” for Hologic. Agency: ghg Grey Health Group
OTHER (CORPORATE CAMPAIGN)
GOLD: “Future Vision” for Omnicom Health Group (OHG) MedTech Expo at Cannes Lions Health. Agency: TBWAWorldHealth
OTHER (PHARMACY CAMPAIGN)
SILVER: Xulane “Solutions at the Shelf” Program for Mylan. Agency: Rx EDGE Pharmacy Networks
OTHER (INTERACTIVE)
BRONZE: “Innovation Hub and MR Theatre” for GE Healthcare. Agency: Inhance Digital
PHILANTHROPIC
GOLD: “The Erase Hunger Project” for Crossroads Community. Agency: Saatchi Saatchi Wellness
PHILANTHROPIC
SILVER: “#attemptlife” Agency: McCann Torre Lazur
PHILANTHROPIC
BRONZE: “The Right Side” for National Brain Tumor Society. Agency: Sentrix Health Communications
PROFESSIONAL PRINT CAMPAIGN
GOLD: “Simplifying Access and Reimbursement” for Amgen Inc. Agency: MediMedia Pharma Solutions, an ICON plc company
PROFESSIONAL PRINT CAMPAIGN
SILVER: “The Stork” for Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. Agency: Concentric Health Experience
PROFESSIONAL PRINT CAMPAIGN
BRONZE: EVZIO “Seconds Count” for kaléo. Agency: Elevate Healthcare Marketing
PROFESSIONAL WEBSITE
GOLD: “EGFR_TKI Resistance” for AstraZeneca. Agency: AbelsonTaylor
PROFESSIONAL WEBSITE
SILVER: “Prevent HIV Website” for Gilead Sciences. Agency: Harrison and Star
PROFESSIONAL WEBSITE
BRONZE: “Medscape” Company: Medscape
SALES AID
GOLD: “Praxbind Virtual Reality MOA” for Boehringer Ingelheim. Agency: Confideo Labs
SALES AID
SILVER: The “Add a Layer” Sales Aid for BioDelivery Sciences International. Agency: The Bloc
SALES AID
BRONZE: “You + Real” for Alcon. Agency: 2e Creative
SELF-PROMOTION
GOLD: “The Decoded Company Video Book Box” for Sensei Labs. Agencies: Klick with Vpak
SELF-PROMOTION
SILVER: “We Are Specialists” Agency: MicroMass Communications, Inc.
SELF-PROMOTION
BRONZE: “Cult Crate” Agency: CultHealth
SOCIAL MEDIA
GOLD: “What’s Her Secret? The Event Series That Got Bloggers Buzzing” for Galderma. Agency: Intouch Solutions
SOCIAL MEDIA
SILVER: “UltraShape Social Media Campaign” for Syneron Candela. Agency: AbelsonTaylor
SOCIAL MEDIA
BRONZE: “Speaking Up” Agency: Purohit Navigation
UNBRANDED
GOLD: “OpioidIQ” for Collegium Pharmaceutical Inc. Agency: Concentric Health Experience
UNBRANDED
SILVER: “ASM Microbe Digital Campaign” for Wockhardt USA. Agency: ARK Media
UNBRANDED
BRONZE: “Legs” Unbranded Video for Acorda. Agency: JUICE Pharma Worldwide
VIDEO
GOLD: “Training on the Edge: Gilead Managed Markets Landscape Training Teaser Video” for Gilead. Agency: The Access Group
VIDEO
SILVER: “Herb the Bear” for Kamedis. Agency: Calcium
VIDEO
BRONZE: “HARMONY Study – Pediatric Constipation” for Sucampo Pharma Americas, Inc. Agency: BBK Worldwide
###
About PM360
PM360 is the premier, must-read magazine for marketing decision makers in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device industries. Published monthly, PM360 is the only journal that focuses on delivering the full spectrum of practical information necessary for product managers and pharmaceutical marketing professionals to succeed in the complex and highly regulated healthcare environment.
The journal’s targeted and insightful editorial focuses on issues that directly impact critical decision making, including: Planning and implementation of cutting edge strategies, trends, the latest technological advances, branding/marketing, advertising/promotion, patient/professional education, sales, market research, PR, and leadership. Additionally, the “360” in the title signifies the span of this critical, how-to info with personal and career insights for an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
By providing the full circle of enriching content, PM360 is truly an indispensable tool for busy and productive marketing professionals to stay at the top of their game.
Cincinnati Reputation Marketing Video Production Experts Agency Service Launched
The Web Marketingville has announced an expansion of its highly sought after reputation marketing services with proven, proprietary expert business owner interview video production marketing solutions tailored to help anyone quickly establish lasting authority in their niche online at an economical cost.
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The most popular Cincinnati digital marketing agency, Web Marketingville, has announced an expansion of its industry leading reputation marketing services with a unique video production marketing solution to help businesses quickly establish authority in their niche online.
More information is available at http://WebMarketingville.com.
Web Marketingville is one of the most experienced and trusted online marketing agencies in Cincinnati, Ohio, with its proven track record helping all types of businesses develop, maintain and market a leading reputation online through the most advanced and strategic web design, SEO or flagship, unique and highly sought after ‘local buzz’ and reputation marketing services.
The agency has now announced a proprietary corporate video marketing solution tailored to help startups and local businesses or professionals quickly establish a lasting authority in their niche at a cost they can actually afford, through compelling expert interview videos to be used on all business communications and marketed on social communities and video directories
The business/professional expert interview video production services draw on the proven authority building potential of professionally developed corporate videos, with recent studies showing they have led 96% of surveyed customers to make a purchase decision, 71% to remain with a good impression of the company and 58% to believe the business is more trustworthy, to help clients establish a dominant presence in their niche and a lasting edge over competitors.
Consultations, more information and client testimonials on how the expert interview videos delivered by the agency’s acclaimed video production division, Local Buzz Connect, can help businesses and professionals instantly establish authority online at a cost which actually allows for a superior ROI are available at 513 489-5550, through the website link provided above or at http://webmarketingville.com/want-to-build-local-business-authority-online-fast.
The Web Marketingville founder, Ken Geers, explains that “it can be challenging for a new business startup to establish authority in their niche online. And to do it quickly is unheard of since most of them do not have a track record. But times have changed and now that authority can come sooner rather than later. The expert interviews we create with business owners are the way to start instantly getting that online authority their business needs at a very economical cost.”
Contact Info:
Name: Ken Geers
Organization: Web Marketingville
Address: 9204 Village Green Dr Cincinnati, OH 45242, United States
Phone: +1-513-489-5550
For more information, please visit http://www.webmarketingville.com
Source: PressCable
Ryan, Falcons, Cowboys big winners on NFL awards night
HOUSTON (AP) — Matt Ryan and the Dallas Cowboys were big winners Saturday night.
The Atlanta Falcons quarterback was voted The Associated Press 2016 NFL’s Most Valuable Player and top offensive player. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott took Offensive Rookie of the Year and Jason Garrett was selected Coach of the Year by a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league.
On the eve of the Super Bowl in which he will face off with two-time league MVP Tom Brady, who finished second in this year’s balloting, Ryan easily outdistanced Brady 25-10 for MVP. He beat Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers 15½ to 11 for Offensive Player of the Year.
Ryan, of course, was not on hand at the « NFL Honors » TV show. But in a taped acceptance speech, he said:
« I just want to say thank you. This is an incredible honor for me. Obviously, there are so many other great candidates and players who had amazing seasons.
« I want to thank all my teammates. Obviously, without them, none of this is possible. We’ve had so many guys on our team make great plays and have great seasons for us, so thank you to those guys. »
Garrett drew 25 votes for best coach, beating out New England’s Bill Belichick (14).
« This is an extension of our football team and I really accept it on their behalf, » said Garrett, who took over as Dallas coach in 2010. « I coach with some really great guys and I’m really fortunate to coach with so many great players that go about it the right way, and it’s really just an extension of that. It’s a team award. »
Prescott, in a two-man race with his running back, Ezekiel Elliott, won 28½ to 21½. The QB brought the RB onstage to share in his special moment.
« He deserves it just as much as I do from his yards, his catches, » Prescott said. « The way we handled things in the backfield is always together. »
Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, apparently headed to San Francisco after the Super Bowl to be head coach of the 49ers, took the assistant coaching award.
Packers receiver Jordy Nelson , returning from a devastating knee injury, was selected Comeback Player of the Year.
Oakland edge rusher Khalil Mack slipped past 2016 Super Bowl MVP linebacker Von Miller for Defensive Player of the Year, 18-17.
San Diego lineman Joey Bosa won top defensive rookie honors in a landslide.
« I don’t really set goals like this for myself very often, awards, » said Bosa, who missed the first four games after a holdout. « But I definitely wanted this one. I’m really happy I got it done. »
Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Giants quarterback Eli Manning shared the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
« Quite simply this is the most meaningful honor an NFL player can receive, and I am flattered beyond words that the selection committee deemed me worthy of it, » Fitzgerald said. « More than anything it is a reflection on my parents whose words and example taught my brother and me the value of service and the importance of giving back. »
Manning called it « an honor to be mentioned in the same breath with Walter Payton. »
« None of us do what we do on behalf of charity or in our communities to get recognized, » Manning added. « We do it because we truly care. You want to make a difference in people’s lives and in our communities. But to be recognized and know that people do notice your work is nice. »
___
For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Super Bowl 2017 halftime show: Get ready for Lady Gaga, you little monsters
Lady Gaga. The name conjures up many images. You may think of her infamous meat dress … or perhaps watching her hatch out of an egg at the Grammy Awards. Or maybe you are picturing her outrageous green dress comprised of the disembodied heads of Kermit the Frog. Regardless of what ridiculous outfit you associate with Gaga, you can’t say she’s uninteresting.
For a lot of people, people with whom I inherently disagree with and abhor, tuning into the Super Bowl on Sunday will be for one reason and one reason only: the halftime show. With Lady Gaga headlining the show this year, well, there are a Million Reasons to tune in.
Sure, Gaga is famous for her outlandish sense of fashion, but she’s also a hell of a singer and absolutely knows how to put on a show. This will not be her first trip to the big game, either.
If you recall, last year she sang the national anthem and took our breath away with her GROTESQUE BLOOD-COLORED GLITTER EYESHADOW—er I mean, patriotic wardrobe and makeup. She might have also lost you a shit ton of money when she caused an international gambling crisis by singing, “Home of the brave” twice.
The rumors surrounding Gaga’s halftime performance are already SWIRLING. Gaga is intent on making the halftime show the biggest and most unforgettable in history, which, knowing her, is quite plausible. There are already rumors that at $10 million, this is the most expensive halftime show that the NFL has ever produced.
Gaga even said her sister suggested that she perform from the roof of NRG Stadium. If Lady Gaga were to fly from the 235-foot roof of NRG Stadium onto the field it would probably be the least controversial thing she’s ever done, so between You and I, I’m holding out for more.
Most recent Super Bowl halftimes have included guest appearances, and the current rumor is that Elton John will join the star to give a tribute to the late David Bowie. Both Sir Elton and Lady Gaga are (like any person with a sense for musical talent) David Bowie fans, but both have been keeping a Poker Face when asked about the potential duet.
Other guest appearance rumors involve Beyoncé, who dropped the most fire Instagram of the week on Wednesday when she announced she was pregnant with twins. I think we can safely assume that Bey will not sing or Just Dance during halftime, seeing as this pregnancy looks real. (LOL JUST KIDDING DON’T HURT ME BEYHIVE.)
So who is this mysterious Lady Gaga? Well, her real name is Stefani Germanotta and she was born and raised in New York. She attended NYU and performed in New York City’s Lower East Side, until eventually moving to L.A. to record her first album.
After her first album, The Fame, was released, Lady Gaga has proven to be a musical force with a stage presence and fashion sense unparalleled in the entertainment industry. The Paparazzi love her for her absurd outfits and stage persona. Gaga has been nominated for a Monster 17 Grammy Awards, of which she has won SIX. Six Grammys, eh? I’m lucky if I get six likes on a tweet.
Anywho, Gaga’s talent is undeniable and she has a loyal and vocal fanbase, which she lovingly refers to as her “Little Monsters.” She co-founded a website exclusively for her fans called LittleMonsters.com, which OMG IT HAS A PIC OF HER AND ELTON JOHN ON THE FRONT PAGE.
Aside from music, Gaga recently starred in American Horror Story and won a Golden Globe to much Applause. I, personally, am terrified of the American Horror Story franchise and refuse to watch any episodes, even if it is to research Lady Gaga for this article. (Seriously, that show is forked up.) But woah! Six Grammys and a Golden Globe?! I suppose you could say she’s on the Edge of Glory.
Gaga has been in the news a lot lately due to her activism and philanthropic work, especially following the presidential election. This has led many to speculate if or how she will use her platform this weekend. This is where I predict the countless angry “STICK TO SPORTS” comments that will occur on this article that really, truthfully has had nothing to do with sports.
You should be excited for the halftime show because, despite all the costumes and funky makeup, Lady Gaga is extremely talented. Yes, sometimes she can be pretty far out there but look, she was … Born This Way.
The Super Bowl starts at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday so if you’re looking for Gaga, turn on FOX around 8 p.m.
Trump Officials File Appeal to Overturn Ruling Blocking Immigration Order
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Trump makes right turn on Iran
President Trump’s decision Friday to quickly slap new sanctions on Iran after it conducted a ballistic missile test signals the hard turn the new administration intends to take with Tehran.
It capped a week in which the fiery rhetoric from Team Trump highlighted rising tensions between the two countries.
The new sanctions were cheered by Republicans, who had pushed former President Obama to respond more muscularly to Iran’s provocations.
“If you look at the world and you look at the Iranians and you look at what they’ve done, there has to be a response,” Sen. John McCain
John McCainTrump makes right turn on Iran The Trump opposition: Hell hath no fury like Democrats’ scorn Save money, Pentagon resources: Close our surplus military bases MORE (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said this week.
The White House announced new sanctions on 13 people and 12 companies, including several entities that support the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and help the Iranian government procure materials for its missile program.
The individuals and companies — based in Iran, China, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates — are banned from doing business with U.S. institutions or American citizens.
The Treasury Department maintained the new sanctions are “fully consistent » with the United States’ obligations under the nuclear agreement and that nobody on whom sanctions were lifted under the deal has been redesignated.
Experts have said sanctions that could truly hurt Iran would likely violate the deal
The launch was widely interpreted as a test from Tehran of Trump’s response.
The sanctions themselves aren’t much of a departure from the Obama administration’s handling of Iran’s missile program. In January 2016, Obama’s Treasury Department sanctioned nearly a dozen Iranian-linked entities for their role in the program.
But Republicans accused Obama of dragging his feet in responding to the ballistic missile tests and not responding more robustly, saying Obama was choosing to placate Tehran so as not to risk the future of the landmark nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers.
By contrast, they said, Trump’s quick response shows that America will not tolerate Iran’s provocative behavior.
“This announcement makes clear that it is a new day in U.S.-Iran relations and that we will no longer tolerate Iran’s destabilizing behavior,” Sen. Bob Corker
Bob CorkerTrump makes right turn on Iran Trump embraces his critics’ outrage Senators to Trump: We support additional Iran sanctions MORE (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Friday in a statement. “A coordinated, multi-faceted effort to pushback against a range of illicit Iranian behavior is long overdue.”
Democrats, some of whom chafed at times to Obama’s policies toward Tehran, also praised Friday’s sanctions.
“I have long supported new sanctions on those involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program and their support for terrorism,” Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), ranking members of the House Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement Friday. “Iran’s recent ballistic missile test—in clear violation of international law—certainly deserves today’s response.”
Engel is one of many Democrats who opposed Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran, which Trump has repeatedly criticized.
Trump and his administration are using notably harsher rhetoric to talk about Iran.
Trump has tweeted about Iran multiple times since Sunday’s test, saying that he won’t be as “kind” to the Iranians as Obama and that Iran was “on notice.”
National Security Advisor Michael Flynn also said Iran was “on notice” after the test.
At the same briefing Wednesday, Flynn also said the ballistic missile launch was in “defiance” of a United Nations Security Council resolution.
U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, which was passed in July 2015 in support of the nuclear deal, says that, “Iran is called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.”
The language has hindered a U.N. response, since supporters of Iran, such as Russia, argue the tests aren’t a violation because the resolution is a “call,” not a “ban.” For the same reason, the Obama administration also consistently avoided saying outright that the tests violated the resolution, saying instead they “violated the intent.”
Iran also contends the launches don’t violate the resolution because the missiles are not designed to carry nuclear weapons.
Trump included Iran among seven Muslim majority countries from which travel to the United States is temporarily banned. The inclusion prompted Iran to pledge a reciprocal ban on travel from the United States.
Iran has also vowed to continue with its missile tests regardless of Trump’s rhetoric.
“We will never use our weapons against anyone, except in self-defense,” Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zharif tweeted Friday, prior to the announcement of sanctions. “Let us see if any of those who complain can make the same statement.”
Indeed, Matthew McInnis, a resident fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said sanctions alone probably won’t be enough to stop Iran’s missile program, though they will hopefully have some positive effect.
“Eventually there will need to be some further pressure, potentially including threats of force,” he said. “The ballistic missile program is so critical to the regime that it will take a very significant amount of pressure on them to seriously consider stopping the program.”
As an example of the type of threat, McInnis said the United States could threaten to shoot down Iranian missiles.
Shooting down a missile would be an act of war, said Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council and author of “Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran, and the Triumph of Diplomacy.”
Parsi expressed alarm at Trump’s handling of the situation, calling it “blind escalation.” He said he expects Iran to respond in some way to Trump, at which point Trump will either have to make good on his promises or look weak on foreign policy.
“What’s their mechanism to dial this down,” Parsi said. “They don’t really have much options, so why make the threat. If you want to be strong on foreign policy, you don’t make threats you can’t act on.”