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Iranian official calls for negotiations with Washington in Iraq


yota691
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God bless President Trump. Blessings also to Iranian people. May they be freed soon, from the current jackasses running that country. May they do sensible things, cooperate, embrace economic progress, quit being terrorists, so that trade may make Iranians rich and happy. May the bellies of their children be full. May their old people live in peace. Amen.

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Economist: The second phase of US sanctions on Iran will include Iraq


The economic expert Abdul Rahman al-Mashhadani warned on Sunday that Iraq will continue to adopt a policy supportive of the Iranian economy, adding that Iraq will include in the event of imposing the second phase of sanctions on Iran.

"It is not wise to go in the direction of destruction for Iran or a neighboring country, and Iraq must realize the magnitude of the American threat and seriousness against Iran," Mashhadani told the news agency.

He added that "about six banks will be among the sanctions on Iran next June, as well as the imposition of further sanctions on Iraq if it continues to deal with trade."

"The signing of economic agreements with Iran is a grave mistake at a time of increasing international pressure against Tehran," Mashhadani said, adding that "the future US sanctions explicitly stipulate the inclusion of any party that deals with Iran commercially, oil and the like."

 http://www.ikhnews.com/
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  • yota691 changed the title to America extends the exemption period for Iraq from sanctions on Iran
Release date: 2019/3/19 22:27 • 387 times read
America extends the exemption period for Iraq from sanctions on Iran
{International: Euphrates News} The United States extended the period of exemption for Iraq from its sanctions against Iran.
"The administration of President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for exempting Iraq from committing to US sanctions against Iran for another three months," a US State Department source told CNBC. 
On November 4, 2018, the United States began imposing sanctions on Iran, which is rich in oil under tough economic conditions. 
The United States has lifted sanctions on Iran after reaching an agreement on Iran's nuclear program in 2015. 
US sanctions include various economic, financial and industrial sectors, especially the oil sector, which is the main source of income for hard currency needed by Iran. 
Washington has said it seeks to make Iran's oil exports zero.
The new US exemption comes a week after Iranian President Hassan Rowhani visited Iraq at the head of a high-level delegation with 22 agreements and a memorandum of understanding with Baghdad. 
Rohani said after the visit that "no one can affect the relationship between Iran and Iraq," a reference to America
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2019/03/19 22:31
  • Number of readings 1741
  • Section: Iraq
  •  

America extends the exemption period for Iraq from sanctions on Iran

BAGHDAD / The obelisk: The United States, Tuesday, March 19, 2019 extended the period of exemption for Iraq from its sanctions against Iran.

"The administration of President Donald Trump has extended the deadline to exempt Iraq from complying with US sanctions against Iran for another three months," a US State Department source told CNBC.

On November 4, 2018, the United States began imposing sanctions on Iran, which is rich in oil under difficult economic conditions.

The United States has lifted sanctions on Iran after reaching an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program in 2015.

US sanctions include various economic, financial and industrial sectors, primarily the oil sector, which is the main source of hard currency needed by Iran.

Washington has said it seeks to make Iran's oil exports zero.

The new US exemption comes a week after Iranian President Hassan Rowhani visited Iraq at the head of a high-level delegation with 22 agreements and a memorandum of understanding with Baghdad.

Rohani said after the visit that "no one can affect the relationship between Iran and Iraq," a reference to America.

Follow the obelisk - agencies

 

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2019/03/20 18:19
  • Number of readings 31
  • Section: Iraq
  •  
  •  

Washington: We continue with our partners in Iraq to discuss the sanctions imposed on Iran

 

 

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Wednesday (March 19, 2019) that the United States and its partners in Iraq would continue to discuss sanctions against Iran.

"US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced this evening that we will continue discussions and discussions with our partners in Iraq on the US sanctions against Iran," Sky News said in an urgent news report.

In a related context, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Iraq to develop its relationship with Kuwait, pointing out that Washington calls on the Gulf states to resolve the crises and differences to achieve security and stability in the region.

"The administration of President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for exempting Iraq from committing to US sanctions against Iran for another three months," a US State Department source told CNBC on Tuesday (March 18, 2019).

On November 4, 2018, the United States began imposing sanctions on Iran, which is rich in oil under difficult economic conditions.

The United States has lifted sanctions on Iran after reaching an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program in 2015.

US sanctions include various economic, financial and industrial sectors, primarily the oil sector, which is the main source of hard currency needed by Iran.

Washington has said it seeks to make Iran's oil exports zero.

The new US exemption comes a week after Iranian President Hassan Rowhani visited Iraq at the head of a high-level delegation with 22 agreements and a memorandum of understanding with Baghdad.

Rohani said after the visit that "no one can affect the relationship between Iran and Iraq," a reference to America.

Follow the obelisk - agencies

 

http://almasalah.com/ar/news/166776/واشنطن-نواصل-مع-شركائنا-في-العراق-مناقشة-العقوبات-المفروضة-على-إيران

 
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Sad to see this:

 

BAGHDAD / The obelisk: The United States, Tuesday, March 19, 2019 extended the period of exemption for Iraq from its sanctions against Iran.

"The administration of President Donald Trump has extended the deadline to exempt Iraq from complying with US sanctions against Iran for another three months," a US State Department source told CNBC.

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Husseini's policy : The US exemption was not made by an Iraqi request, as some believe

Alusi: The US exemption was not made by an Iraqi request, as some people think
 
 Twilight News    
 
 2 hours ago
 

 

(Reuters) - The removal of US sanctions against Iran by the United States was not at the request of the federal government in Baghdad, senior Iraqi politician Mithal al-Alusi said on Thursday.

Al-Alusi told Ashqaf News that "America's exemption for Iraq to deal with Iran for an additional period, according to US reports, electric power is a major crisis in the country, especially citizens suffer from interruptions like other institutions and ministries in the summer."

He added that "a report from the US side confirms the continuation of the electricity crisis without improving during the summer, and the report confirms that America stands on the Iraqi side and support in the field of electricity, despite the disclosure of corruption and punish failed governments."

The Iraqi politician said that "the exemption was not an Iraqi request, as imagined by some, but through the US administration exclusively, and the appreciation of the parties."

The United States extended a three-month exemption to Iraq in December, allowing it to import from Iran reliable electricity, despite US sanctions on Tehran, a State Department official said.

"As this new exemption aims to help Iraq mitigate the effects of its energy shortage, we continue to discuss with our partners in Iraq the sanctions on Iran," the official said.

He added that expanding production capacity and diversifying the sources of imports "will enable Iraq to strengthen its economy and development" and encourages a "united, democratic, prosperous Iraq free from the harmful influence of Iran."

Washington re-imposed sanctions on Iran's energy sector in November after it pulled out of a nuclear deal signed between the superpowers and Tehran.

A power shortage that often leaves homes without electricity for up to 20 hours a day is a key factor behind weeks of major protests in Iraq during the summer.

To overcome this shortfall, Iraq imports up to 28 million cubic meters of natural gas from Tehran to its factories and directly buys 1,300 megawatts of Iranian electricity.

This dependence is uncomfortable for the United States, which sought to curtail Tehran's influence and re-impose sanctions on Iranian financial institutions, shipping lines, the energy sector and oil products.

 
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Hmmmm, they continue to flare gas, why don’t they revalue there currency.

Hire companies to come in and work around the clock to capture the gas to power the generators to power the country!!

No need for Iran at that point. No need for exemptions.

Apparently the KISS principle is unheard of in the Middle East.

 

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5 minutes ago, alreis said:

Hmmmm, they continue to flare gas, why don’t they revalue there currency.

Hire companies to come in and work around the clock to capture the gas to power the generators to power the country!!

No need for Iran at that point. No need for exemptions.

Apparently the KISS principle is unheard of in the Middle East.

 

 

just read a article posted today the plan for basra was to use oil revenues (usd ) to get companies in to rebuild but i like ur plan make the iqd powerful and use it ... cheers

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1 hour ago, alreis said:

Hmmmm, they continue to flare gas, why don’t they revalue there currency.

Hire companies to come in and work around the clock to capture the gas to power the generators to power the country!!

No need for Iran at that point. No need for exemptions.

Apparently the KISS principle is unheard of in the Middle East.

 

Siemmens and GE signed contracts to build power plants and improve the grid..of course a RV will bring more companies ..and no more power from insanians :)

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Baghdad Post Thursday, 21 March 2019 07:38 PM

 

 

Forgetting the problems of Iraq .. Abdul Mahdi intends to go to Washington for the eyes of Iran!

6598F47E-9845-4F2F-BE7C-85DF30E009D1_w1023_r1_s

 

The deputy of the Fatah alliance Hassan Salem, expressed the intention of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to  go to Washington in the coming days to discuss ending the sanctions imposed on Iran. 

"Iraq is playing an important role in regional and international relations and has broad horizons in playing the role of mediator to resolve disputes between rival countries," Salem said in a press statement. 

"The Iraqi government will play an important role in ending the US economic sanctions against Iran," he said. 

"The Iraqi government has an inclination to intervene in resolving the sanctions issue against Iran," Salem said. "Abdul Mahdi may go to Washington in the coming days to discuss ending these sanctions.

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/ar/Story/158593/متناسيا-مشاكل-العراق-عبد-المهدي-ينوي-التوجه-لواشنطن-لاجل-عيون-ايران

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Deputy: Iraq will play an important role in the abolition of US sanctions against Iran

17:21 - 21/03/2019
0
 
  
%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%86-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84%D9

Information / special ... 
MP on the alliance of the conquest Hassan Salem, on Thursday, that Iraq will play an important role in ending the file of US economic sanctions imposed against the Islamic Republic of Iran, between Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, will go to Washington in the coming days in this regard. 
"Iraq is playing an important role in the regional and international relations and has a broad horizon in playing the role of mediator to resolve differences between the conflicting countries," Salem said in a statement. "The Iraqi government will play an important role in ending the file of US economic sanctions Imposed against Iran. " 
He added that "the Iraqi government has a tendency to intervene in resolving the file of sanctions against Iran because it is illogical and aim to starve the peoples," noting that "Abdul Mahdi may go in the coming days to Washington to discuss the issue of ending sanctions against Tehran."
And Salem, that "the US administration has lost and failed in its brutal sanctions against Tehran that the latter do not care about and affected by." 
The Committee on Foreign Relations, earlier, the visit of a high-level government delegation headed by President Barham Saleh to Washington to discuss the exclusion of the Iraqi government from economic sanctions against Iran, while the government is able to reject the sanctions and the lack of commitment to them absolutely. 
The newspaper "Okaz" Saudi Arabia has revealed, earlier, the notification of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, the US ambassador in Iraq that Baghdad can not be dispensed with Iranian gas and electricity.

https://www.almaalomah.com/2019/03/21/395007/

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Rebounds Saturday March 23 , 2019 0:56

 

 

Details ... the Iranian individuals and entities listed on the new US sanctions list

 

New US sanctions

 

14 individuals and 17 Iranian entities, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Treasury Department (OFAC), together with the US State Department, placed them on the new sanctions list for Iran's Defense Research and Innovation Organization (SPND). 

According to the Office's statement, the group has provided support to Iranian military entities and individuals who have played a key role in efforts to obtain weapons of mass destruction by the Iranian regime in the past. 

The sanctions target the current subgroups of SPND, its supporters, front companies and associated officials. 

"Our maximum campaign continues to put pressure on Iran with today's sanctions on targets contained in the regime's nuclear program, including former nuclear weapons scientists," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet on his Twitter account . 

"We will continue to relentlessly depriveIran has the ability to participate in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and all its outlaw activities. " 

The individuals and entities associated with the SPND group that included the new sanctions list are: 

Individuals:

 1. Mansoor Asgari associated with the organization of the organization of innovation and defense research 
2. Mohammed Mahdi Duamey Attaran, linked to the Foundation "PUYA ELECTRONIC SAMAN NIRU" 
3. Ruhollah Kadiri Premi , from Shahid FAKHAR MOGHADDAM GROUP 
4. Saeed Borgi, associated with SHAHID KARIMI GROUP 
5. Rida Ibrahimi, associated with the organization of Defense Innovation and Research Organization 
6. Gholamreza Attati, associated with the Foundation for the Regulation of Defense Innovation and Research 
7. Mohammed Hussein Hakin, East PAKHSH SHARGH KIMIYA " 
8. Jalal Emami unawares Hajlo, associated with the institution of " Shahid Karimi KARIMI the GROUP SHAHID " 
9. Mr. smaller Hashemi Tabar, salary Foundation "organization ofresearch innovations and defense" 
10.
11. Mohammad Reza Mehdibor, affiliated with the Shahid Karimi Group 
12. The largest Zelda group , linked to Shahid Karimi Group 
13. Mohammed Jawad Safri, from Shahid FAKHAR MOGHADDAM GROUP
14. Mohsen Shafei, associated with the Foundation "Boya Electronic Saman PUYA ELECTRO SAMAN NIRU". 

Entities:

1. Abu Rihan 
Group 2. BOALI 
Group 3. Haydar Karar 
Group 4. KIMIYA PAKHSH SHARGH Group, also known as KIMIA Valiasr Chemistry in Tehran 
5. Buya Electronic Saman PUYA ELECTRO SAMAN NIRU " 
6. PARADISE MEDICAL PIONEERS COMPANY 
7." Sadra "Research Center 
8." Shahid Oiny " 
Group 9." Shahid Babaei 
Group "10. Shahid Shamran 
Group 11." Shahid Group " Fakhr Muqaddam 
12. Shahid Karimi 
Group 13. Shahid Kazemi 
Group 14. Shahid Group of Unity Danesh 
15. Shahid Shukri Center 
16. Al-Shahid Zainuddin " 
17." Sheikh Bahai "Center for Scientific Research and Technology

These individuals and institutions contributed to the Iranian regime's "Amad Plan" and purchased materials, equipment and a variety of activities to develop a nuclear explosive device, the Treasury said. Iran

also re- designed a ballistic missile launch platform for possible use as a system to produce a nuclear weapon, the statement said. Scientists have been involved in research and proliferation-sensitive experiments on behalf of Iran's SPND military organizations, on which Iran spends millions of dollars each year on a wide range of military-related projects.

 

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/ar/Story/158788/بالتفاصيل-الأشخاص-والكيانات-الإيرانية-المدرجة-على-قائمة-العقوبات-الأمريكية-الجديدة

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4 minutes ago, Butifldrm said:

These individuals and institutions contributed to the Iranian regime's "Amad Plan" and purchased materials, equipment and a variety of activities to develop a nuclear explosive device, the Treasury said. Iran

 

"A Mad Plan"

 

WHO, pray tell, came up with THAT name for the PLAN???!!!

 

The Insanians???!!!

 

:lmao:   :lmao:   :lmao:

 

In The Mean Time.........................................................................................

 

BOOM!!! NO MO Insanians - Buh Bye Insanians :wave:   :wave:   :wave: ....................

 

AND (of course)...........................................................................................

 

Go Moola Nova (YEAH AND YEE HAW, BABY, READY WHEN YOU ARE BROTHER (OR SISTER) - LET 'ER BUCK!!!)!!!

:rodeo:   :pirateship:

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US Targets 'Vast Network' for Evading Iran Sanctions

The Trump administration is moving to break up a group of Iranian-linked companies that it says have been evading U.S. sanctions against Iran to the tune of more than a billion dollars.

 
March 26, 2019, at 1:14 p.m.
 

US Targets 'Vast Network' for Evading Iran Sanctions

BY MATTHEW LEE, AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration moved Tuesday to break up a group of Iranian-linked companies that has transferred around $1 billion to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions on the country.

The Treasury announced it had hit a "vast network" of 25 people, firms and Iranian government agencies with sanctions for evading penalties the U.S. put in place last year after withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. The sanctions freeze any assets they may have in U.S. jurisdictions and bar Americans from doing business with them. But they also open any foreign company or person to U.S. sanctions if they do business with the targeted entities.

 

The action identifies four firms in Iran, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates as front companies for Iran's Ansar Bank, which has been funneling money to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and related groups in violation of U.S. sanctions.

Treasury said the companies had sent roughly $800 million to the bank, which had passed the cash on to the IRGC, its Quds Force component and Iran's defense ministry. The money was used to pay salaries for employees and foreign fighters, particularly in Syria.

"We are targeting a vast network of front companies and individuals located in Iran, Turkey, and the UAE to disrupt a scheme the Iranian regime has used to illicitly move more than a billion dollars in funds," Treasury said in a statement.

The step also imposed an additional layer of sanctions on the defense ministry, which had been previously penalized for development of weapons of mass destruction. The new layer adds support for terrorism to the designation.

Tuesday's move comes as the administration increases what it calls a "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran that focuses heavily on denying it revenue from oil exports.

On Monday, Treasury renewed a warning to international shipping and port operators, advising them of potential sanctions if they allow Iranian tankers into their facilities. It also warned them that exposure to liability claims because most Iranian vessels are self-insured and not able to cover damage costs in the event of an accident.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2019-03-26/us-hits-iranian-bank-companies-with-new-sanctions

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U.S. Sanctions Firms Accused of Helping Fund Iran's Revolutionary Guards

 

March 26, 2019, at 10:02 a.m.

Reuters

 

FILE PHOTO: A staff member removes the Iranian flag from the stage after a group picture with foreign ministers and representatives of the U.S., Iran, China, Russia, Britain, Germany, France and the European Union during the Iran nuclear talks at the Vienna International Center in Vienna, Austria July 14, 2015. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File PhotoREUTERS

BY LESLEY WROUGHTON

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday imposed fresh sanctions on a network of companies and people in Iran, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates it said was helping to raise billions of dollars to fund the operations of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.

The U.S. Treasury blacklisted 25 people and organizations, including a clutch of front companies based in the three countries, that were working on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Iran's defense ministry to raise money for their activities.

The targeted institutions include banks and other financial institutions such as Ansar Bank, Atlas Exchange, Iranian Atlas Company, the U.S. Treasury said in a statement.

"We are exposing an extensive sanctions evasion network that was established by the Iranian regime to evade American sanctions," Brian Hook, the U.S. special envoy for Iran, told reporters. "With this action today we are increasing our pressure even further on the Iranian regime."

Hook described Ansar as "the banker" of the Revolutionary Guards and its overseas operations run by Quds Force. He said the bank paid the salaries of IRGC-Quds Force employees and Iranian foreign fighters in Syria.

"They created front companies to access the U.S. financial system on their own," said Hook, adding that Tehran was feeling the pressure from U.S. sanctions and created the network to look for a way around the restrictions.

He said the Ansar front companies had raised $800 million over the last year and a half to buy military vehicles and to fund the IRGC's and Quds Force operations.

Additionally, Hook said the United States was sanctioning Iran's defense ministry "for its support for terrorism" and providing logistics support to the Revolutionary Guards.

A U.S. official said the sanctions were not related to the U.S. State Department's labeling of groups as so-called foreign terrorist organizations, known as FTOs. The defense ministry was blacklisted in 2007 for its role in weapons of mass destruction proliferation, Hook added.

"We are now expanding our authorities against Iran's ministry of defense for its support for terrorism," Hook told reporters at the State Department.

The sanctions are part of a campaign by Washington to pressure Tehran to negotiate a comprehensive plan to end its nuclear and missile programs.

President Donald Trump withdrew last year from a 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers. Since abandoning the agreement, the United States has imposed a string of new sanctions aimed at choking off Iran's funding, especially from oil.

The IRGC is by far Iran's most powerful security organization and has control over large stakes of the Iranian economy and huge influence in its political system.

(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton and Susan Heavey; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli, James Dalgleish and Paul Simao)

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2019-03-26/us-issues-new-iran-related-sanctions-treasury-website

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Washington is imposing sanctions against companies and individuals to help the Iranian guard

Washington is imposing sanctions against companies and individuals to help the Iranian guard

 26 March 2019 09:02 PM
Direct: The United States imposed sanctions against 25 entities and individuals in Iran, Turkey and the UAE for their involvement in helping the Revolutionary Guards in Tehran.

The Treasury Department said in a statement on Tuesday it had taken action against 25 individuals and entities, including a network of companies based in Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, which turned over $ 1 billion to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and the Ministry of Defense in Tehran.

Among the target entities are banks and financial institutions including Ansar Bank, its exchange company and Atlas Exchange, the statement said.

"We are targeting a large network of companies and individuals in Iran, Turkey and the UAE to disrupt a scheme used by the Iranian regime to transfer illegal funds to more than one billion dollars," Treasury Secretary Stephen Manuchen said. 

"The Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the Ministry of Defense and other malicious actors in Iran continue to exploit the international financial system to evade US sanctions, while the regime funds terrorism and other destabilizing activities throughout the region.

Washington has re-imposed sanctions on Iran after US President Donald Trump announced his country's withdrawal from the nuclear deal in 2015 with Tehran.

 
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Washington warns Asian countries to circumvent Iran's oil sanctions

Washington warns Asian countries to circumvent Iran's oil sanctions
 



 Twilight News    
 5 hours ago

A senior US official said on Friday that the United States is keen to know Malaysia, Singapore and others fully knowledge of Iran's banned oil shipments and methods used by Iran to avoid sanctions.

Sigal Mandler, Treasury Undersecretary for Counterterrorism and Financial Intelligence, told reporters in Singapore that the United States had put "intense pressure" on Iran this week.

 
"It is very important that these countries have an important vision that reveals the different methods used by the Iranian regime to deceive the international community with regard to shipments of oil," she said, referring to her talks in Singapore and Malaysia.

She said she would highlight the risks inherent in dealing with Iran during her meetings in the coming days with officials from the governments of Malaysia, Singapore and India.

"This trip comes in the wake of other intense pressure on Iran, and last week we took action against nuclear scientists, nuclear agencies and other key figures who worked with the former nuclear weapons entities of the Iranian regime," she said.

It said action had been taken this week with a network involved in a plan to allow Iran to evade sanctions and said the network included companies based in several countries, including Turkey.

With regard to Venezuela, she said that the United States was exerting "the utmost pressure" on the Government of President Nicholas Maduro.

Keywords: 

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29-03-2019 10:43 AM 
Number of readings: 18


Agency of the orbit -

Continue

The US Treasury Department on Friday called on Asian countries, including Singapore and Malaysia, to work to uncover Iran's tactics to evade oil sanctions . 

 

"The United States has put 'intense pressure' on Iran this week, "Treasury Undersecretary for Counterterrorism and Financial Intelligence Segal Mandler told reporters in Singapore .

 

"It is very important that these countries have an important vision that reveals the different methods used by the Iranian regime to deceive the international community in terms of shipments of oil."

 

"It will highlight the risks inherent in dealing with Iran during its meetings in the coming days with officials from the governments of Malaysia, Singapore and India," Mandelker said .

 

"This trip comes in the wake of other intense pressure on Iran. Just last week we took action aimed at nuclear scientists, nuclear agencies and other key figures who worked with the former nuclear weapons entities of the Iranian regime . '

 

The United States is seeking to cut Iran's crude oil exports by about 20 percent to less than 1 million barrels per day (bpd) as of May, by calling on importing countries to cut purchases to avoid US sanctions .

 

The United States is likely to renew sanctions exemptions for most of the countries that buy Iranian crude, including China and India, the biggest buyers, against pledges to cut imports to less than 1 million bpd .

 

 

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US affirms Iraq must abide by Iran sanctions

4 hours ago
 

http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/fd3ef05f-0947-4454-a589-8edcac32ae13

 

US affirms Iraq must abide by Iran sanctions
Cars of the Iranian delegation are parked outside a building of the at Diaoyutai state guesthouse in Beijing as Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif meets Chinese state councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi, China, May 13, 2018. (Photo: Reuters/Thomas Peter)
 
Iraq USA Washington Iran Tehran 
A+AA-

WASHINGTON DC (Kurdistan24) – As US economic pressure builds on Tehran, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino affirmed that Iraq must continue to adhere to the US sanctions on Iran.

“The United States will aggressively enforce its sanctions authorities, and entities that continue to engage in sanctionable activity involving Iran will be exposed to United States sanctions,” Palladino said on Thursday, as he replied to a question from Kurdistan 24.

However, Palladino sought to portray the US enforcement in Iraq of those sanctions as more of a cooperative, rather than antagonistic, effort.

While affirming that US sanctions on Iran did apply to Baghdad, he added, “We’re continuing to work with Iraq at the same time to increase its energy independence” and expand “the use of Iraq’s own natural resources,” while “diversifying energy imports.”

Iraq is heavily dependent on Iran to meet its energy needs, particularly for electricity. Electricity shortages in southern Iraq last summer led to widespread protests against Baghdad and focused popular attention on what was deemed an ineffectual and corrupt government.

Since re-imposing sanctions on Iran in November, Washington has given Iraq successive 45-day waivers to import electricity from Iran. The most recent such waiver was granted on March 20. Iraq’s electricity infrastructure is in bad shape, and it is difficult to imagine those waivers ending any time soon, particularly with another summer approaching, even as Palladino laid out the longer-term goal of Iraqi energy independence.

The Treasury Department plays a major role in US sanctions policy. On Tuesday, it announced sanctions against 25 individuals and entities in the UAE, Turkey, and Iran for their role as front companies for the Iranian military, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC.) The scheme allowed the Iranian military to covertly acquire large sums of hard currency.

Ansar Bank is an Iranian bank under the control of the IRGC, the Treasury Department explained. Using Ansar Bank, the IRGC ran a “vast network” through which it exchanged “devalued Iranian rial for dollars and euros.” Indeed, the bank was used by the IRGC Quds Force for multiple purposes, including “to pay the salaries of its foreign fighters, particularly those based in Syria.”

Brian Hook, the State Department’s Special Representative for Iran, explained that Tehran was able to secure $800 million in hard currency over the past year and a half using the Ansar network and its related front companies.

Eight countries, among them Turkey, currently have waivers to import Iranian oil. They will expire on May 2. Hook stated that he did not anticipate that the US would grant new waivers as it intends to cut off all of Iran’s oil exports. However that is a decision that Pompeo will make along with President Donald Trump, Hook said.

The US has taken specific aim at Iran’s oil trade with Syria—what the Treasury Department’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Sigal Mandelker, called “an oil for terror scheme,” in which Iran exported oil to Syria “in return for hundreds of millions of dollars” for its “terror proxy groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Quds Force.”

“Iran has been unable to deliver oil to Syria since January 2,” The Wall Street Journalreported last week. A key step in the US effort was its success in pressing Egypt to block Iranian oil shipments to Syria traversing the Suez Canal.

Consequently, Syria is suffering “fuel shortages and skyrocketing energy prices,” the Journalsaid, as it noted that the measure serves two US goals: weakening the regime of Bashar al-Assad, as well as undermining Iranian influence in Damascus.

In restricting Iranian trade through the Suez Canal, there could also be an impact in Lebanon, which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited last week and where he strongly criticized Hezbollah, which has become a major force in Lebanese politics.

“You’ve got to go back decades when the last secretary of state was prepared to do that,” Pompeo said on Thursday in Washington at the National Review Institute.

However, the US pressure on Iran—whether in regard to its transportation routes or its oil and finance sectors—makes Iraq all that more important to Tehran.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani paid a three-day visit to Baghdad earlier this month, and his large delegation included a substantial economic contingent.

Iraq is “another channel for Iran to bypass America’s unjust sanctions,” a senior official accompanying the Iranian President said. “This trip will provide opportunities for Iran’s economy.”

Before leaving Iran, Rouhani explained that his country was “very much interested” in expanding ties with Iraq, “particularly our transport cooperation.”

In Baghdad, Rouhani signed an agreement on the construction of a railway from the Iranian border town of Salamcheh to the Iraqi port city of Basra. When completed, it will provide Iran access to Iraq’s transportation routes to Syria and Lebanon—the so-called “land-bridge” to the Mediterranean.

If the US is concerned about such prospects, however, that is not yet evident in the public statements of US officials.

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 Arab and international


Economy News _ Baghdad

Japanese refiners have stopped importing oil from Iran after buying 15.3 million barrels between January and March before a temporary US sanctions exemption expires, sector sources and Reventiv Aikon reported.

The waiver, which allows Japan to buy some Iranian oil for 180 days, ends in early May. But Japanese refiners want to ensure that there is enough time for all shipments already loaded into Japan to arrive and to complete the payment process.

"We believe that it is difficult to continue to load Iranian oil after March," a spokesman for Fuji Oil said, adding that banks and insurance companies wanted to ensure that all transactions and deliveries were carried out properly before the end of the exemptions.

The latest shipment of Iranian crude on board the giant Kisugawa is expected to arrive in Chiba, Japan, on April 9, the data show.

Last year, the United States called on countries to halt imports of Iranian oil when it re-imposed sanctions on Iran's oil sector on November 4 over Tehran's nuclear program.

But Washington has granted temporary exemptions to Iran's biggest oil clients - Japan, China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Italy, Greece and Turkey.

Refineries in Japan, the world's fourth-largest oil consumer, stopped loading Iranian oil by mid-September and resumed loading only in late January after banks received government guarantees on processing payments to Iran.

Japan loaded 15.3 million barrels of Iranian crude in the first three months of this year, equivalent to 86,430 barrels per day during the six-month exemption period, according to Reventiv and Reuters calculations.

This represents a 33 percent drop compared to an average of 129,300 barrels a day that Japanese companies received between January and September last year before the sanctions began to be implemented, according to Rev.

The drop is further than the 20 percent reduction in supplies reported by Washington from each country over the six-month grace period.

Japan has boosted imports from the Middle East, Russia, North America and South America as its imports of Iranian oil have declined, according to government data.

Japan's refiners are pressing the government to request an extension of the exemption from US sanctions after the end of the initial exemption period.

Japanese officials met with their US counterparts earlier this month in Washington to discuss US sanctions.

"I think the exemption may be extended, but perhaps less and to a smaller number of countries," said Takayuki Nogami, chief economist at Japan National Oil, Gas and Minerals Company.

"If the US government does not extend the exemption, oil prices may be pushed up a lot as the season of gasoline consumption approaches and that may damage Trump's reputation."

On Wednesday, Japan extended government-backed insurance to cover oil imports from Iran for another year.


Views 53   Date Added 29/03/2019

 
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