administratively embargoed

The newly-minted ambassador, officially credentialed and assuming the role just hours prior to Trump’s announcement to withdraw from the Iranian nuclear deal, to the US mission in Berlin sent out his first missive, suggesting that “German companies doing business in Iran should wind down operations immediately.”
It seems like everyone in that crooked cadre does not see words as a mode of communication to be exchanged, but rather as projectiles to fire out demands. Though Trump did not have the nerve (happily) to careen the world economy into chaos with a full-fledged trade war with his promised tariffs on steel exports but a trade war may yet materialise over this threat, given that America reserves the right to impose secondary sanctions on businesses that have dealings with Iran, in any capacity and any company sizable enough to do business with Iran would most likely have an American presence to subject to punishment. Though the US withdrawal from the deal, which was one of Trump’s campaign promises, was not surprising—the extent of punitive second- and third-degree repercussions is, determined to drive a wedge between the US and Europe that will result in greater consensus among those still party to the agreement (were it a treaty, Trump could not withdraw unilaterally): the EU, China and Russia.