Iranian official calls for negotiations with Washington in Iraq

[yota691]

Press reports: Iraqi parties loyal to Iran concerned about US sanctions

 

Press reports: Iraqi parties loyal to Iran concerned about US sanctions

 

Number of readings: 10665 01-07-2018 06:46 PM

 

01-07-2018 06:46 PM 

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US sanctions against Iran, in response to its destabilizing security policy in the region and the development of its nuclear program, have prompted US-backed Iraqi parties to fear a halt to financial support amid a deepening economic crisis, press reports said on Sunday. 

The government sources said that 'a climate of anxiety hovering over the Iraqi forces friendly to Iran, amid the intensification of Washington's pressure on Iraqi banks that help the Iranian regime'

Noting that 'Washington intends to trim Iranian claws in Iraq as part of the deterrence of its influence'.

[Pitcher]

US President Donald Trump will suffocate Iran’s “dictatorial ayatollahs”, his close ally Rudy Giuliani said, suggesting his move to re-impose sanctions was aimed squarely at regime change.

The former New York mayor who is now Trump’s personal lawyer, was addressing a conference of the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an umbrella bloc of opposition groups in exile that seek an end to Shi’ite Muslim clerical rule in Iran.

“I can’t speak for the president, but it sure sounds like he doesn’t think there is much of a chance of a change in behaviour unless there is a change in people and philosophy,” Giuliani told Reuters in an interview.

 

“We are the strongest economy in the world … and if we cut you off then you collapse,” he said, pointing to protests in Iran. In May, Trump withdrew the United States from a 2015 international deal to curb Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting some sanctions.

Trump supporters have spoken at NCRI events in the past, including national security adviser John Bolton, who, before taking his post at the same conference last July, told the group’s members they would be ruling Iran before 2019 and their goal should be regime change.

Bolton said in May that the administration’s policy was to make sure Iran never got nuclear weapons and not regime change.

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/28928/Trump-adviser-says-Iran-s-Mullahs-end-imminent

[ChuckFinley]

Sucks when your playing with someone who can kick your a$$ at will.  

[10 YEARS LATER]

11 minutes ago, ChuckFinley said:

Sucks when your playing with someone who can kick your a$$ at will.  

 

DAMN STRAIGHT CF   

[Pitcher]

Rudy can’t speak for the President but,,,,,,,

 

“Hey Rudy, go spike the ball in those Mullahs face”. “Make sure you tell them we will crush them”

 

MAGA”

 

Bahahahahahahaha.

 

You know the Mullahs hate that article. 

 

I hate war but the Iranian Mullahs have been causing trouble since 1980. Time to give them the fight they have been itching for since 1980.  Trump is cleaning up all of the USA’s trash just like Michael Corleone in the “Godfather”.   Is it just me or do you get the idea that the USA is putting the wood to the “Axis of Evil”. We are giving them a choice, peace or annihilation!!

[CSM (R) Thack]

1 hour ago, Pitcher said:

Rudy can’t speak for the President but,,,,,,,

 

“Hey Rudy, go spike the ball in those Mullahs face”. “Make sure you tell them we will crush them”

 

MAGA”

 

Bahahahahahahaha.

 

You know the Mullahs hate that article. 

 

I hate war but the Iranian Mullahs have been causing trouble since 1980. Time to give them the fight they have been itching for since 1980.  Trump is cleaning up all of the USA’s trash just like Michael Corleone in the “Godfather”.   Is it just me or do you get the idea that the USA is putting the wood to the “Axis of Evil”. We are giving them a choice, peace or annihilation!!

I guess it’s time to re-up!!!😎🇺🇸

[Pitcher]

CSM (R) Thackeray,  WOW, you would make em squeel!!

[CSM (R) Thack]

7 minutes ago, Pitcher said:

CSM (R) Thackeray,  WOW, you would make em squeel!!

🤣😂🤣😂

[yota691]

Washington: We seek to reduce Iran's oil revenues to zero

 

 

 Twilight News    
 6 hours ago

The United States' pressure campaign on Iran aims to reduce Tehran's oil revenues to zero in a bid to push the Iranian leadership to change its behavior in the region, a senior State Department official said on Monday. 
US State Department Policy Director Brian Hawke told a news conference that the United States aims to cut as many Iranian oil imports as possible to zero. 
"Our goal is to increase pressure on the Iranian regime by cutting its revenues from crude oil sales to zero. 
"We are working to reduce interruptions in the global market, but we are confident that there is enough additional global capacity for oil," he said.

Keywords: 

[yota691]

US aims to reduce Iran's oil revenue to zero

US State Department says Washington's goal is to get as many countries as possible down to zero Iranian oil imports.

5 hours ago

•  

In a tweet on Saturday, US President Donald Trump said extra Saudi oil would help offset a decline in supply from Iran [Reuters]

The US State Department has spelled out a campaign of "maximum economic and diplomatic pressure" to drive Iran towards negotiating a "better" deal to replace the Iran nuclear deal.

State Department Director of Policy Planning Brian Hook told reporters on Monday that Iran is not a "normal" country and must meet 12 demands in order to be relieved of US sanctions.

"Normal countries don't terrorize other nations, proliferate missiles and impoverish their own people," Hook said.

"This new strategy is not about changing the regime, it is about changing the behaviour of the leadership in Iran to comport with what the Iranian people really want them to do," he said.

The State Department said new sanctions, which it described as "snap back" sanctions, will begin on August 4, targeting Iran's automotive sector and its trade in gold and other key metals.

A second set of sanctions will snap back on November 6. This set will target Iran's energy sector, focusing on petroleum-related transactions, plus transactions with the central bank of Iran.

The move comes two months after US President Donald Trump announced US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.

International pressure

US officials called on countries to cut all imports of Iranian oil when it re-imposes sanctions on Tehran.

It called on allies in Europe, Asia and the Middle East to adhere to the sanctions with the aim of pressuring Iran into negotiating a new agreement.

Hook said he planned to meet with European allies Britain, France and Germany at the end of the week to discuss Iran. He also said he and senior Treasury Department officials would visit Gulf states "in the coming days."

Hook told reporters that the goal of the United States was to get as many countries as possible down to zero Iranian oil imports.

"Our goal is to increase pressure on the Iranian regime by reducing to zero its revenue on crude oil sales," Hook said.

"We are working to minimize disruptions to the global market but we are confident there is sufficient global spare oil capacity."

Hook said more than 50 international firms have already announced their intention to leave the Iranian market, especially in the energy and financial sectors.

"We have been clear with countries and companies around the world that we are bringing severe economic pressure on Iran until the regime changes its destabilizing policies," Hook said.  

Saudi Arabia's King Salman promised Trump at the weekend that he would raise oil production if needed and that the country has 2 million barrels per day of spare capacity to boost output, the White House said.

In a tweet on Saturday, Trump said the extra Saudi oil would help offset a decline in supply from Iran.

He was not specific on whether the additional two million barrels was a per-day figure - but worldwide daily demand is nearing 100 million bpd.

[yota691]

Iran opens doors to oil smuggling to face imminent suffocation

Readers

 

 

Iran opens doors to oil smuggling to face imminent suffocation

 

03-07-2018 01:32 PM

 

The Euphrates -

 

The Iranian government said yesterday it would allow private companies to export crude oil as part of a strategy to circumvent US sanctions as it continues to complain about the producers' race to compensate for the absence of supplies from the world oil markets. 

Iran is looking for ways to continue exporting oil, Iran's sole lifeline, after the United States asked its allies to halt Iranian oil imports from next month. And stressed that it is determined to stop exports in full and will not grant any exceptions. 

"Iran's crude oil will be on the market and the private sector can export it in a transparent way," Iranian First Vice President Ishaq Jahangiri told an official economic event in Tehran on state television. 

"We want to abort US efforts ... to stop Iranian oil exports." But analysts say technological innovations in tracking the implementation of sanctions have made it possible to track all violations. They did not want Tehran to circumvent sanctions through smuggling. 

Global reports point to global companies' concerns about US sanctions, prompting them to consult artificial intelligence offices and algorithms to detect any gap they could expose to high US fines, which is likely to double sanctions on the Iranian economy. 
The move and statements by Iranian officials reveal the degree of desperation Tehran has reached, which can only complain that all doors to its oil exports are closed. 

Oil, shipping and refining companies are scrambling to suspend their dealings with Iran by the end of the US deadline, since President Donald Trump announced the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal on March 8. 

Not only did companies withdraw from dealing with Tehran on European companies, but extended to the largest importers of oil in India and most Asian countries. 

Observers confirmed an unprecedented consensus among companies to bow to US sanctions and stop dealing with Iran. They ruled out even venturing to Asian companies in India and China to deal with Iranian oil after the US deadline. 

French Economy Minister Bruno Lemerre acknowledged that French companies would not be able to stay in Iran at a time when the companies were conducting a massive evacuation of their activities in Iran. German Foreign Minister Haikou Mas also stressed that Europe has never been able to protect its companies from US sanctions. 

Producers inside and outside OPEC ignored Tehran's pleas and decided last month to increase production by about 1 million bpd, including Russia, one of the last advocates of the nuclear deal, which has already begun to increase production by 200,000 barrels a day. However, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh reiterated his complaint about OPEC's position by sending a new message calling on the OIC member states not to implement the agreement they reached and refrain from any unilateral steps undermining the unity of the organization. 

Jahangiri resorted to the threat, which reveals the extent of frustration by saying that "any party trying to grab Iran's share in the oil market is committing a treason against Iran and will pay for it one day." 
Analysts say the sanctions came at a convenient time for oil markets because many countries have additional production capacity that can easily replace Iranian supplies. Saudi Arabia is in addition to Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq. 

The White House confirmed on Saturday that Saudi Arabia had pledged to the US president that it could increase oil production if necessary and Riyadh had surplus capacity of 2 million barrels per day. 

Iran hopes that producers will not be able to compensate for its oil supplies. OPEC delegate Hassan Kazem Bor Ardebili questioned Saudi Arabia's ability to produce the increase. 

Iran is suffering from severe economic crises despite the export of 2.6 million barrels per day, where the riyal has lost more than half of its value since the beginning of this year. 

Analysts see the dark economic horizon puts the Iranian street in a dead end and the only option is to escalate demands for a comprehensive political transformation in the management of political and economic files, which could lead to the collapse of the regime. 

Protests have continued in most Iranian cities, which are no longer limited to demanding economic crises and are calling for a change in the policies that are squandering the country's wealth to intervene in the region and calling for the regime to be overthrown.

[yota691]

America is looking to classify Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization

 

 Twilight News    
 3 hours ago

The United States is considering the inclusion of Iran's Revolutionary Guards in the list of terrorist organizations of the US State Department. 
The channel "CNN" quoted US officials on Monday that the discussion of this issue has been going on for several months, but the parties involved have not reached a consensus on this matter so far. 
They added that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is one of the most important supporters of this decision. 
At the same time, some in President Trump's administration have expressed concern that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is a terrorist organization that puts American institutions abroad and its personnel at risk. 
US National Intelligence Director Dan Coates believes the move could jeopardize the safety of US military personnel abroad.
The channel also noted that the inclusion of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the list of terrorist organizations will allow Washington to freeze its assets in US banks, and restrictions on the entry of Iranians to US territory, and impose new sanctions against Iran. 
In October 2017, the US Treasury Department listed Iran's Revolutionary Guard units as "supporting terrorism." 
The ministry said at the time that the reasons for the decision were due to the assistance provided by the Revolutionary Guards to terrorist groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Taliban.

Keywords: 

[Pitcher]

President Hassan Rouhani appeared on Tuesday to threaten to disrupt oil shipments from neighboring countries if Washington presses ahead with its goal of forcing all countries to stop buying Iranian oil, a Reuters report said.
The comments, published on Iran’s presidential website on Tuesday and partially repeated at a later news conference in Switzerland, could be open to interpretation. However, when asked whether he intended to make a threat, Rouhani declined to provide a clarification.
Iranian officials in the past have threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping route, in retaliation for any hostile U.S. action against Iran.
“The Americans have claimed they want to completely stop Iran’s oil exports. They don’t understand the meaning of this statement, because it has no meaning for Iranian oil not to be exported, while the region’s oil is exported,” the website, president.ir, quoted him as saying.
When asked at a news conference in Bern later on Tuesday whether those comments constituted a threat to interfere with the shipping of neighboring countries, Rouhani said: “Assuming that Iran could become the only oil producer unable to export its oil is a wrong assumption ... The United States will never be able to cut Iran’s oil revenues.”
The United States pulled out of a multinational deal in May to lift sanctions against Iran in return for curbs to its nuclear program. Washington has since told countries they must halt all imports of Iranian oil from Nov. 4 or face U.S. financial measures, with no exemptions.

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/29003/Iran-s-Rouhani-hints-at-threat-to-neighbors-exports-if-oil-sales-halted

[Pitcher]

If Iran tries a blockade of the Staits of Hormuz, we will have a big ole war in the ME.  Stay tuned, this could get very interesting.

[Hotcurl]

IMHO;

Rouhani needs to take a dirt nap.

Desperate threats from a desperate leader.

 

Semper Fi

GO RV

Happy 4th of July to all .................

[Pitcher]

One of my best friends who is a Marine told me years ago,  Lake Iran has a nice ring to it.  

 

That dude was the toughest man I ever met.  Semper Fi to my great buddy.  RIP!!

[Floridian]

Great idea, Rouhani.  If things don't go your way, threaten you neighbors.

Perfectly logical and that's why you're the President of Iran.

The Ayatollah loves you. 

[yota691]



Washington: US strategy toward Iran includes 12 requests and reinstated previous sanctions

Rohani: Thinking of banning our oil «pure imagination»

Raed Saleh

Jul 04, 2018

 

Washington - The US strategy on Iran, which includes 12 requests, is not about regime change in Iran, but about changing leadership behavior in Tehran to accommodate what the Iranian people want, according to Brian Hawk, director of policy planning at the State Department. Explaining that the main part of the strategy is a campaign of economic and diplomatic pressures.
He pointed out in a special briefing on Iran that the first part of the sanctions will be returned on August 4, targeting Iran's auto sector, gold trade and other major metals, and the other part will return on 6 November, targeting the Iranian energy sector and related transactions With the Central Bank of Iran. The US official said the United States would not impose sanctions on the export of food or medicine in Iran and would never target humanitarian goods, noting that the sanctions were aimed at changing the regime's behavior and not targeting the Iranian people.
As for China's position, which has expressed its opposition to the US position on withdrawing from the Joint Action Plan (the nuclear deal) and whether Chinese companies will be subject to US sanctions if it continues to deal with Iran, Bryan said the United States believes China, Russia and other countries are fed up with terrorism Caused by Iran, and that these countries do not support the proliferation of missiles in the Middle East. 
He said most countries share the United States' goals, noting that there is a global consensus on the list of goals and demands set by Foreign Minister Mike Pompeomchira that China has repeatedly voted on UN resolutions on Iran. Iranian President Hassan Rowhani said on Tuesday that the United States would never be able to prevent Iran from exporting its oil and described the US State Department's declaration as "pure fiction."
US State Department Policy Director Brian Hawk, who runs negotiations with US allies on a new strategy on Iran, said Monday that Washington was confident that there were enough oil reserves in the world to dispense with Iranian crude. 
"It's actually exaggerated statements that can not be made at all," Ahmadinejad told a news conference in Bern with Swiss Union President Alain Presse. 
"A scenario of this kind means that the United States will impose imperialist policy in flagrant violation of international laws and regulations," he said. 
"All oil producers are allowed to export their oil except Iran," Rohani said. 
Washington has threatened to punish foreign companies that deal with Iran. "The brutal sanctions imposed on a large nation is in itself the greatest human rights violation imaginable," Rouhani said.
He added that Iran and Switzerland "agreed to say that the nuclear agreement was indeed an important gain and it is in the interest of the world to maintain it for international peace." 
"As long as our interests are respected within the framework of the nuclear agreement and as long as Iran can benefit from the concessions (listed in the agreement), we will stay in the agreement," he said. 
Rohani, who arrived in Switzerland on Monday, held two series of talks with President Percy devoted to bilateral issues as well as to the nuclear deal. He will leave for Vienna on Wednesday.
"We are aware that the withdrawal announced by the United States could impede or jeopardize the progress that has been achieved," Percy said sadly. From Switzerland's point of view, this agreement was an unprecedented success. But today there is a lack of security to a certain extent we hope to retreat. " "We have a frank and open dialogue. We hope to continue it even when we do not agree on the same opinion, "referring in particular to the issue of recognition of the existence of Israel. 
Rowhani said that Iran "considers the Zionist entity illegal."

[yota691]

Rohani: Tehran will remain in the nuclear deal if its interests remain guaranteed

- 7/4/2018 1:52:00 AM25 Number of readings

 

 

 

 

Khandan -

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian President Hassan Rowhani said on Wednesday that Tehran would stay in the nuclear deal only if other signatory countries guaranteed its interests after the United States withdrew. 

"The withdrawal of Washington from the agreement reached in 2015 is illegal," Rouhani told a news conference broadcast by state television. 

"Neither the United States nor any other country will benefit from the decision to withdraw from the agreement," he said.

[gregp]

Nuke the 

[yota691]

Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz against oil exports

05/07/2018

 

 

 

A new challenge announced by Iran in the face of threats by US President Donald Trump to tighten sanctions if Europe fails to provide the necessary guarantees required by Iran to stay at the heart of nuclear understanding.

The guarantees clearly mean thwarting the US effort to deny Iran the marketing of its oil, depriving it of hard currency resources and banking exchange.

The failure of Europe, according to the positions of the Iranian president and the Revolutionary Guard commanders, and General Qassem Soleimani, is far beyond Iran's return to high uranium enrichment, after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers, which produce about 10 million barrels per day from the Gulf, is on the table as one Of the actions that may be taken by Iran.

Iran's threat to close the Strait of Hormuz The Bush administration is facing an immediate challenge, with its initiative to declare a commercial and financial war on Iran, using the strengths of its banks in the global financial system, in return for an Iranian threat to respond using its geographically To transfer energy.

It is not the first time Iran has threatened to close the strait and prevent Gulf Arab states from exporting their oil, which means a major international crisis and a shortage of energy supplies.

[yota691]

After the American threat .. Iranian parliamentarian: We can not close the Strait of Hormuz

Date Posted       05/07/2018 11:56 AM

Hours after the US responded to Iranian president's comments on preventing shipments of oil from neighboring countries if countries respond to Washington's request not to buy Iran's oil. The head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian Parliament, Hishmatullah Fallah Basha, in remarks quoted by the Iranian Parliament, Khane Melt, that his country can not close the Straits of Hormuz before crossing oil shipments. He added that Iran does not intend to violate international treaties, returned US actions against Iran, an example of Washington's lack of respect for international treaties as he put it. The spokesman for the Central Command of the US forces, has confirmed that the forces of his country and its regional allies are ready to ensure freedom of movement and the circulation of free trade in the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with the provisions of international law.

[Butifldrm]

• economic

The European Parliament approves the work of the investment bank in Iran

11:12 - 05/07/2018

0

 

Information / Baghdad ..

EU lawmakers have given their approval to the European Investment Bank to work in Iran, which keeps alive plans to salvage the nuclear deal signed with Tehran in 2015 that the United States has pulled out of.

The investment bank is the EU's long-term investment arm and a key pillar of the EU's attempts to maintain business ties with Iran in the face of Washington's decision to re-impose sanctions on Iran.

But the decision by EU lawmakers does not obligate the bank to work with Iran, a move that could threaten its ability to raise funds in US markets and thus have a major impact on its operations.

The European Parliament overwhelmingly blocked a proposal from lawmakers from the far right to prevent the European Commission from lifting restrictions on the bank's dealings in Iran, paving the way for the bill to enter into force in early August.

"We are giving the European Investment Bank the right to invest in Iran if there are suitable projects," said Siegfried Morissen, a lawmaker from the European Peoples Party who led the preliminary discussions on the proposal.

"Iran's agreement is good for the security of Europe," he said, referring to an agreement signed by world powers in 2015 that would curb Tehran's ability to develop nuclear weapons. Ending / 25

http://www.almaalomah.com/2018/07/05/323795/

[DinarThug]

LINK

RIYADH: Threats to close the Strait of Hormuz could raise oil prices to $ 300 a barrel

 

 

5th July, 2018

Kuwait's Al-Rai newspaper published a news analysis on what could result from the threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz and the prospect of oil prices rising to $ 300 per barrel, indicating that it would be catastrophic for Kuwait that Iran has been trying to prevent oil exports from crossing the Straits. 

Iran's threats to block oil shipments from neighboring countries if the United States goes ahead with forcing all countries to stop buying Iranian oil have cast a shadow over the Gulf states in general and Kuwait in particular.  While analysts saw the closure of Hormuz as one of Tehran's options, they noted that Kuwait would be the biggest victim if Iran's Revolutionary Guard took the lead in threatening his leadership. Analysts pointed out that the only option for Kuwait to export its oil up to about two million barrels per day, is the Strait of Hormuz, which means that the possibility of stopping the movement of maritime navigation or obstruction in the strait will inevitably reduce its oil exports significantly or stop altogether, which is dangerous Real on the country. 

For its part, warned oil sources of the seriousness of the implementation of the Iranian threats, the estimated exports of the Gulf oil total, which can be narrowed by Tehran by 10 to 15 million barrels per day, saying it would be «disaster by any measure if it happened».  "While some countries have foreign oil reserves in other countries, such an option is not available to Kuwait at present, as it has no external reserves in any other country," the sources told Al-Rai.

The sources added that «the stock on the ships may be for a day or two days, and not as the internal strategic inventory estimated at 30 days».  "Despite the exclusion of the implementation of Iranian threats, especially as it will touch the whole world and will raise oil prices frighteningly up to $ 300 a barrel," she pointed out that the remaining option is to find alternatives to Kuwait to avoid the taboo.  However, it considered that "these alternatives remain in their entirety difficult and very limited, and can not continue for a long time," pointing out that among these options, the transfer of the export of Kuwaiti oil through Oman in pipelines, or the transfer of Kuwaiti oil to Saudi Arabia, Ship it across the Red Sea. 

The sources added that «possible alternatives also transfer Kuwaiti oil tankers to Khorfakkan in the United Arab Emirates, and to Oman through a pipeline». On the other hand, the sources considered that the damage will not be limited to Kuwait or Gulfis only, but it will touch the Americans, Russians, Europeans and Asians, so they will not allow the closure of the strait or damage to this vital commodity or artery through which this commodity. 

The sources said that Kuwait has an oil reserves estimated at only 4 million barrels outside Kuwait, including two million strategic reserve, and two million as an operational stock only, compared to tens of millions of other countries.  "Even if the strait is tapped as before, Kuwait has the ability to load its oil tankers and pull it out of the strait in cooperation with US forces and deployed fleets, as it has been during crises and wars before," she said.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards announced yesterday that it is ready to implement a policy to prevent regional oil exports, following the threats by President Hassan Rowhani to ban the export of crude shipments in neighboring countries if the United States continues its policy to stop buying oil from his country.  "The Guard is ready ... if necessary to implement a policy that hinders regional oil exports if the United States prohibits Iranian oil sales," IRNA quoted Revolutionary Guards Corps commander Qassem Soleimani as saying. 

Sulaimani praised Rohani's remarks, saying in a letter, "I accept your hand (directed to Rohani) to make such wise statements that came at the time, and I am at your service to implement any policy that serves the Islamic Republic." Rowhani threatened yesterday to block shipments from neighboring countries if Washington went ahead with its goal of forcing all countries to stop buying Iranian oil.  Rowhani did not elaborate, but Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping route, in response to any hostile action by the United States against Iran.

 

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LINK

Economist : Iraqi oil prices will rise in the event of closure of the Strait of Hormuz

 

5th July, 2018

Economic expert Salama Smisem, on Thursday, that Iraq will be affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, while likely to increase the prices of Iraqi oil source in the event of implementation of this resolution.  "Iran has been well versed in the diplomatic game since 1979 and until now, through statements by its officials to close the Strait of Hormuz, it is trying to warn the United States of America that it exists," Smisem said in a statement to Mawazin News. 

She added that "US President Donald Trump threatened OPEC to increase its production of oil to reduce its prices so as not to be affected by consuming countries," noting that "the US president is now engaged in economic war and is not unlikely to reserve the funds of the Organization of OPEC in case there was conflict with his project". And on the impact of Iraq in the event of closure of the Strait of Hormuz, confirmed Smisem that "Iraq is now linked to agreements with the United States of America and can not be decisions against the interests of the United States," noting that "Iraqi oil prices will rise with the threat of Iran to close the Straits of Hormuz, Oil prices will return to the benefit of the country and we are living the period of business by the current government? ". 

For his part, ruled out an Iranian official, that his country to close the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the most important waterways in the world, and most of the movement of ships and oil exports. The head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian parliament, earlier on Thursday, said that "the president did not mean his words about the possibility of exporting oil of the region if Iran did not export its oil, closing the Strait of Hormuz." "Iran does not intend to breach international treaties, but American actions against Iran are an example of Washington's disrespect for international treaties," he said. "The world must realize that 46 percent of the total oil exports go through the Gulf, Important in the export of oil. " 

The Iranian official said that "the situation of his country will not return until before the signing of the nuclear agreement 2015 on the export of oil," adding, "Our situation is not worse than before, and we can now sell oil, even if the US policies and sanctions prevent Iran; but now we have a mechanism to sell Oil ". Rohani said that preventing Iran from exporting its oil means that no one in the region will be able to export its oil, adding that the United States aims to impose isolation on its people, warning that it would cost Washington a heavy price. The head of the Revolutionary Guards Corps, Quds al-Quds, said on Wednesday that Tehran was ready to block oil exports from the Middle East.  The Strait of Hormuz is located in the Arabian Gulf region, separating the waters of the Arabian Gulf on the one hand and the waters of the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean on the other. 

In international law, the Strait of Hormuz is considered part of the high seas, and all vessels have the right and freedom to pass through it as long as it does not harm the safety of the coastal States or affect their system or security. The width of the Strait of Hormuz is 50 km (34 km at the narrowest point) and only 60 m deep. The width of the entry and exit corridors is two nautical miles (10.5 km).

[DinarThug]

LINK

Trump to OPEC: Cut prices now because we are defending you for dollars

 

 

 2018/7/5 1:09

 

US President Donald Trump has accused the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) of pushing fuel prices higher and urging its members to do more.

"Opec should remember that gasoline prices are high and they are doing little to help," Trump wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. 

"They are pushing prices up while the United States is defending many of its members for very few dollars, this has to be a two-way street, they have cut prices now!"

 

 

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LINK

 

Oil falls after Trump attack on OPEC

 

2018/7/5 10:54 

(Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Thursday after US President Donald Trump published a sharp tug on Twitter demanding the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cut crude prices.

Oil prices were also affected by the growing trade dispute between Washington and Beijing, which triggered another Asian stock slide on Thursday as Washington warned it could impose tariffs on US crude imports at an unspecified date.  By 0532 GMT, the price of global benchmark crude for Brent crude was $ 77.68 a barrel, down 56 cents, or 0.7 percent, from the previous close. 

US WTI crude futures fell 45 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $ 73.69 a barrel.  Trump accused OPEC on Wednesday of pushing fuel prices up.  "Opec should remember that gasoline prices are high and they are doing little to help," Trump said on his personal Twitter account. "They are pushing prices up while the United States is defending a lot of its members for very few dollars, this has to be a two-way street, they have cut prices now!" 

OPEC began with some of the producers outside the organization led by Russia to restrict production in 2017 to boost prices.  Recent price hikes have been prompted by the United States' announcement to reinstate sanctions against Iran in November, targeting oil exports.  In June, OPEC and Russia announced they were ready to increase output to defuse supply shortages due to a sudden supply disruption from Venezuela and Libya and are likely to offset the possible decline in Iranian supplies due to US sanctions. Despite these measures to compensate for the idle supplies, Goldman Sachs said on July 4 in a note to customers that "the market will continue to experience a shortage" in the second half of the year.