Iranian official calls for negotiations with Washington in Iraq

[yota691]

Swiss bank suspends all dealings with Iran

 

 Twilight News    
 34 minutes ago

The Swiss Trade and Investment Bank said on Tuesday it had suspended all dealings with Iran and would gradually end its activities with this country after US President Donald Trump announced a withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Tehran.

The bank said in a statement that it had suspended all new transactions related to Iran after May 8.

Trump announced the withdrawal from the agreement on May 8 with the re-imposition of sanctions on Iran within 180 days, prompting a number of European companies to announce their exit from Iran.

Keywords: 

[yota691]

30-05-2018 12:09 PM

Swiss bank suspends all dealings with Iran

 

 

 

The Swiss Trade and Investment Bank said it had suspended all new dealings with Iran and would gradually end its activities with the country after US President Donald Trump announced a withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Tehran. 
The Swiss Trade and Investment Bank, which was founded in 1963, was among the active players in Iran's trade in commodity finance, Reuters quoted sources as saying. 

Trump announced the withdrawal from the agreement on May 8 with the re-imposition of sanctions on Iran within 180 days, prompting a number of European companies to announce their exit from Iran. 

"We suspended any new transactions related to Iran after May 8, 2018 and began a period of exit under the OAS announcement," the bank said in a statement, referring to the US Treasury's enforcement arm.

The Geneva-based bank said it had complied with all sanctions in force after the US decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal and that it was "doing so." 

Earlier this month, Deutsche Bank, Germany's second largest bank, said it would suspend financial transactions with Italy in July.

[yota691]

The US ban targets Iran's auto industry

TEHRAN, May 30 (Itar-Tass) - The new phase of the US ban has not been addressed to prevent the export of cars to Iran, but to include spare parts and punish its suppliers.

"The aim of Trump's departure from the nuclear agreement is to ban the auto industry in Iran, which employs more than one million and 100,000 people. In other words, Trump is targeting workers and workers in Iran," Mohsen Jahroudi said. 
He said only 14 to 15,000 Priyads would be produced for export to Iraq, Syria and CIS countries. 
Finished ** m ** 1718

[yota691]

Foreign oil firms, banks, traders stopping trade with Iran

By Rudaw yesterday at 12:40

Iran’s National Oil Company (NIOC) inks a memorandum of understanding with Russia’s Lukoil on October 4, 2017 to expand cooperation in oil development in the Persian Gulf, the Abadan plateau, and the South Caspian Basin. Photo: Lukoil

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Lukoil, the second largest Russian oil company, and the Swedish lender bank, BCP, are joining other multinationals, halting trade with Iran.

Lukoil, the Russian oil company, and BCP, the Swedish lender bank, announced that they will stop any new business deal with Iran, due to the return of the US sanctions.

"We have suspended any new transaction related to Iran after May 8, 2018 and started the 'wind down period' within the framework of OFAC announcement,” BCP told Reuters.

President Donald Trump announced the United States would pull out from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal on May 9. Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, followed up by announcing the imposition of unprecedented US sanctions on May 22, citing Iran’s nuclear program and regional activities.

Iran’s top diplomat called the move a “sham.”

“US diplomacy sham is merely a regression to old habits: imprisoned by delusions and failed policies—dictated by corrupt Special Interest—it repeats the same wrong choices and will thus reap the same ill rewards. Iran, meanwhile, is working with partners for post-US JCPOA solutions,” tweeted Iranian FM Javad Zarif on May 21, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and US lobbying groups.

Since the US decision for withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, several multinational companies have started to pull out from the Iranian market, forcing Zarif to embark on a tour to foreign capitals. 

Total, a French oil company, announced that it will end its project in Iran unless it is exempted from the US sanctions on May 16.

The world's largest container shipping company, Maersk, announced on May 17 that it had no choice but to adhere to the US sanctions.

"With the sanctions the Americans are to impose, you can't do business in Iran if you also have business in the US, and we have that on a large scale,” Soren Skou, the CEO of Maersk, reasoned. 

Although the European Union leaders have disagreed with the US withdrawal and announced they will protect EU companies to trade with Iran, companies are halting their trade without waiting for the EU leaders.

For its part, Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for energy production, in-line with international standards, and their ballistic program only is for defense purposes.

[js214]

On ‎5‎/‎30‎/‎2018 at 6:34 AM, yota691 said:

30-05-2018 12:09 PM

Swiss bank suspends all dealings with Iran

 

 

 

The Swiss Trade and Investment Bank said it had suspended all new dealings with Iran and would gradually end its activities with the country after US President Donald Trump announced a withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Tehran. 
The Swiss Trade and Investment Bank, which was founded in 1963, was among the active players in Iran's trade in commodity finance, Reuters quoted sources as saying. 

Trump announced the withdrawal from the agreement on May 8 with the re-imposition of sanctions on Iran within 180 days, prompting a number of European companies to announce their exit from Iran. 

"We suspended any new transactions related to Iran after May 8, 2018 and began a period of exit under the OAS announcement," the bank said in a statement, referring to the US Treasury's enforcement arm.

The Geneva-based bank said it had complied with all sanctions in force after the US decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal and that it was "doing so." 

Earlier this month, Deutsche Bank, Germany's second largest bank, said it would suspend financial transactions with Italy in July.

Did Obama give Iran any Franks ? timing of this with sanctions seems suspect

[gregp]

Waiting for the “Shock & Awe.”

It’s coming.  

[yota691]

Iran Freedom Convention in Washingon

 

• RESISTANCE
• 5/5/2018

A large convention of Iranian Americans in Washington DC

PMOI/MEK, May 5, 2018 - Delegation from more than 40 US states are participating in the Iranian freedom convention in Washington D.C.

 

 

The America's Mayor, Rudy Giuliani as a keynote speaker at the Iran Freedom Convention expressed his support for the Iranian people and for a free Iran. Today he calls for #Free Iran and asks US media to go to Paris Grand Gathering of the Iranian people this summer where Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the Iranian Resistance is participating in there.

 

In a message to the Iranian American freedom Convention in Washington DC, congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) expressed support for the Free Iran. She said; ”Congratulations on your #2018IranFreedom Convention for Human Rights and Democracy! The Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC) has been stalwart in advocating for world peace and security..” Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) said.

 

 

 

And Congressman Ted Poe of the grate state of Texas “...Your message as well as of those in Iran is a message of peace". "You want democracy in Iran, not war or repression..." Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) said.

 

 

 

 

Bill Richardson, former governor of New Mexico, a democrat took the stage at the Free Iran Convention in Washington DC offering support for the Regime Change in Iran,  and Iranian people's desire for a free, democratic, non-nuclear Iran which would be at peace with its neighbors.

 

 

 

 

Iranian-American communities want their voices to be heard at the 2018 Iran Freedom Convention. Appeasement, “moderation’ and “reform” myth have all failed. We, the Iranian Americans are against war, and tyranny, and instead are advocating for a policy in support of democracy movement inside Iran.

There is a Bi-Partisan Congressional support for Iran freedom convention.

 

 

"Please know that you have friends and supporters in the US Congress, willing to work toward peace and stability in Iran...” Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY)

 

 

Dr. Daneshgari describes 40yrs of personal experience W/ MEK. "I have treated their sick/injured & given them money. I can testify that they are the sincerest, most dedicated & humble human beings. They are committed to their words & sacrifice their lives for their goal”.

Iranian Americans attending the 2018 Iran Freedom Convention are calling all freedom loving Iranians to attend at FreeIran2018 on June 30^th, Paris and support #FreeIran

As a representative of 1000’s of professionals around the globe who are anxiously ready to devote what we have learned to #Iran.

 

 

I offer my life to that future, where we’ll build a society, w/opportunities for everyone regardless of religion, sex, or political beliefs.

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Italian municipalities support Iran opposition June 30th rally

• ARTICLES
• 5/31/2018

22 municipalities in Italy’s Piedmont Province support Iranian opposition rally

Report by PMOI/MEK staff writer

 

May 31, 2018 - Only a month left to the Iranian opposition’s annual rally in Paris, a number of Italian municipalities held a session to discuss a “Freedom and Democracy for Iran” statement in support of the gathering scheduled this year on June 30^th.

This statement, signed by 22 municipalities in Italy’s Piedmont Province, announces its solidarity with the Iranian people’s nationwide uprising and protests and condemns the Iranian regime’s crackdown against the protesters. The document also backs the Iranian opposition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), and a ten-point plan presented by NCRI President Maryam Rajavi for democratic change in Iran.

“In Iran, more than 120,000 dissidents and democracy/human rights activists have been executed, their family members arbitrarily arrested, viciously tortured and some executed.

“In the summer of 1988, following a fatwa (religious order) issued by [Iranian regime founder Ruhollah] Khomeini, the Iranian regime arbitrarily, and through kangaroo courts, massacred over 30,000 political prisoners, mostly members and supporters of the Iranian opposition movement, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), in prison across Iran…

“The Iranian people have shown the world that, alongside their organized resistance, they are willing to pay the price of democratically changing this regime and establishing a government based on separation of church and state.

“We announce our solidarity with the Iranian people’s uprising for freedom and democracy and support the NCRI for democratic change in Iran. We call on the international community to hinge any and all relations with Iran based on respecting human rights and strongly demand the release of political prisoners.

“We also support the Iranians’ major June 30th rally in Paris, supporting the demands raised in the Iranian people’s uprising for changing the religious dictatorship and establishing freedom and democracy in Iran…

“The time has come for the international community to stand on the right side of history.”

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Gov. Bill Richardson’s speech at the Iran Freedom Convention 2018 – Washington – May 5, 2018

• IRAN NEWS
• 5/30/2018

Gov. Bill Richardson

Washington, May, 5, 2018 - Governor Bill Richardson delivered a speech discussing the future of Iran, regime change in this very important country and the controversial Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA). He examined the Iran protests, especially in the past few months, and how the U.S. administration can and should support the Iranian people’s calls for regime change.

Gov. Richardson discussed how Iran enjoys an alternative in the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), presided by Maryam Rajavi.

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MSNBC Richard Engel’s yellow journalism about Iran’s PMOI/MEK debunked

• ARTICLES
• 5/27/2018

How to stablish facts from a stack of lies and deceptions

Analysis by PMOI/MEK

 

May 27, 2018 - MSNBC’s Richard Engel broadcast a report on May 25^th covering a variety of Middle East issues also referred to the main Iranian opposition entity, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), using previously debunked allegations directed by the Iranian regime, and parroted by its lobbyists and apologists across the board on both sides of the Atlantic for many years.
This is not the first case that NBC has resorted to broadcasting a bogus report. NBC’s February 2012 claims of the PMOI/MEK assassinating Iranian nuclear scientists was never backed by evidence, and rejected specifically by the U.S. State Department in September of that same year as the PMOI was delisted from the Foreign Terrorist Organization’s slate.

Furthermore, citing Masoud Khodabandeh, a known Iranian regime intelligence agent, makes the very objective of this piece crystal clear. As reported by the Library of Congress, Federal Research Division, Dec. 2012 p. 31: Masoud Khodabandeh & his wife Anne Singleton Khodabandeh “agreed to work for Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence & Security (MOIS) and spy on MEK.”

Engel repeats another false Iranian regime claim of the PMOI/MEK killing American military personnel. This is an allegation rejected by the University of Baltimore, the Council on Foreign Relations, a study by Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield and the U.S. Government.

In reference to the PMOI/MEK taking part in the Iranian regime’s U.S. Embassy takeover back in 1979, hostage takers’ spokeswoman Masoumeh Ebtekar (now a key member of Iranian regime president Hassan Rouhani’s cabinet), and others previously rejected any PMOI/MEK participation in this event.

And Engel’s handpicking of former Counterterrorism Coordinator of Daniel Benjamin to emphasize the PMOI/MEK’s terrorist designation is a repeat of what this Obama official says in many interviews.

All the while, the Los Angeles Times in 1997 and a bipartisan House of Representatives majority letter in 1998 made it crystal clear how this blacklisting was politically motivated.

Understanding the end is near, Iran’s ruling clerics are escalating efforts to plot and execute terrorist attacks targeting the PMOI/MEK outside Iran, including in Albania, the United States and Germany, as revealed in an NCRI statement issued on April 20, 2018.

A full rebutting piece published by the NCRI U.S. Office can be viewed here.

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PMOI supporters commemorate founders’ memory on the anniversary of their execution

• ARTICLES
• 5/26/2018

Activists in different cities in Iran posted pictures of Maryam Rajavi on the anniversary of PMOI founders' execution

Exclusive for PMOI/MEK

 

May 26, 2018 - On the anniversary of the execution of the founders of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), activists and supporters in different cities of Iran posted pictures of the founders of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, Mohammad Hanif Nejad, Ali Asghar Badizadegan and Saeed Mohsen, and Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

 

 

 

Supporters of the Iranian Resistance activities in different cities in Iran

 

 

The founders of PMOI founded the organization in 1965, during the Shah’s rule, as three young university graduates who had a rich history of taking part in political and social activism in Iran. Due to the Shah’s regime brutal crackdown on all dissidents and opposition, PMOI started its activities in secret. In 1971, Hanifnejad, Badizadegan and Mohsen were arrested by the Shah’s security forces and sent to prison, where they were brutally tortured.

On May 25, 1972, Shah executed all three founders of the PMOI along with two other senior members, Mahmoud Asgarizadeh and Rasoul Meshkinfam. Masoud Rajavi, who at the time was given life sentence in prison, has led the PMOI since the martyrdom of its founders.

In 1981, a short two-and-half years after the 1979 revolution, the regime of Ruhollah Khomeini banned the PMOI because of their opposition to its totalitarian rule. Security forces rounded up, imprisoned and executed thousands of PMOI members and supporters in the years that followed. The suppression of PMOI supporters in Iran continues to this day. In recent years, the Iranian regime has imprisoned and executed many people for having relations or supporting the PMOI. Relatives of PMOI members continue to linger in prison under harsh conditions.

But against threats to their lives, the supporters of PMOI manifested their support for the organization, its goals by paying their respects to the slain founders at their graves and posting their pictures on walls in different locations. 46 years after their martyrdom, their memory and legacy still lives on.

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Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s speech at the Iran Freedom

• RESISTANCE
• 5/26/2018

Mayor Rudy Giuliani attends a Convention of Iranian American in Washington

 

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“Free Iran 2018 / The Alternative” rally scheduled for June 30th

• RESISTANCE
• 5/21/2018

Free Iran Rally, June 30, 2018

Free Iran Rally in Paris, June 30, 2018

In circumstances that protests across Iran – continuing after the Dec/Jan uprising – are rattling the very pillars of the Iranian regime, and political developments in the Middle East and throughout the globe are placing further pressure on Tehran’s mullahs, Iranian exiles from across the globe are gathering in Paris once again for the annual Iranian Resistance gathering.

Continuing its struggle for a free during the past 15 years, the Iranian Resistances seeks to establish a free Iran without any crackdown, torture or execution; based on the separation of church and state where the mullahs’ current rule is replaced by a democratic system based on the ballot box; establishing a non-nuclear Iran, becoming the epicenter of peace and friendship in the Middle East and the world over; the country’s God-given wealth not being wasted on warmongering, but to provide the population’s welfare; and a country in which equality, social justice, progress and protecting the environment will all be realized.

Certain is the fact that the Iranian regime is facing enormous obstacles and challenges both inside the country and on the global stage.

The international community is finally beginning to realize that the appeasement policy must be set aside. Freedom and democracy must be established in Iran, following regime change, in order to obtain peace and tranquility in the region.

Three principles are now proven more than ever before:
- Regime change in Iran is a dire necessity

- Regime change in Iran is at hand

- There is a viable alternative for the Iranian regime

The Dec/Jan uprising has proven that the Iranian people want this regime gone and senior official in Tehran are acknowledging this undeniable reality.

As seen most recently in Kazerun, the Iranian regime has neither the will nor the capacity to provide for the Iranian people’s rightful demands.

After nearly 40 years in power, the time has come for this regime to be set aside.

 

Iranian Resistance Mass Rally

June 30, 2018

Villepinte, Paris, France

[Pitcher]

India’s Reliance Industries Ltd, owner of the world’s biggest refining complex, plans to halt oil imports from Iran, two sources familiar with the matter said, in a sign that new U.S. sanctions are forcing buyers to shun oil purchases from Tehran.

Reliance’s move, expected to take effect in October or November, came after U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned a 2015 nuclear agreement this month and ordered the reimposition of U.S. sanctions on Tehran.


Some sanctions take effect after a 90-day “wind-down” period ending on Aug. 6, and the rest, notably on the petroleum sector, after a 180-day “wind-down period” ending on Nov. 4.


India has said it does not follow U.S. sanctions but companies with links to the U.S. financial system could be liable to penalties if they do not comply.


Reliance, an Indian conglomerate controlled by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, has significant exposure to the financial system of the United States, where it operates some subsidiaries that are linked to its oil and telecom businesses among others.


Reliance, whose modern refining complex at Jamnagar in Gujarat can process about 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude, has told officials of the National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC) that the firm would stop oil imports from Tehran in October or November, one of the sources said.


A second source said the company could halt imports from Iran earlier than that if European nations and Tehran failed to salvage the nuclear deal.


This source said that some insurance companies have asked Reliance to end exposure to Iran before November.


Global insurers have already warned about doing business with Iran while some shipping lines have said they would not take new bookings for Iran.


The United States has threatened to impose sanctions on European companies that do business with Iran.


In the interim period until it stops buying Iranian oil, Reliance has asked NIOC to supply Iranian oil in vessels owned by National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), the sources said.


The sources did not wish to be identified as the matter is sensitive. Reliance did not respond to an email from Reuters seeking comment.


In 2017, Reliance’s oil imports from Iran surged by about 45 percent to 67,000 bpd, according to ship tracking data. In Jan-April 2018, the company has imported about 96,000 bpd.


RETHINKING DEALINGS
Washington’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal has spurred global insurers and other companies to rethink their dealings in Iran as they await further guidance from the United States and European Union.


Earlier this month French energy giant Total said it might quit a multi-billion-dollar gas project if it could not secure a waiver from U.S. sanctions.


Italy’s Eni, which last June signed a provisional agreement with Tehran to conduct oil and gas feasibility studies, has said it had no plans for new projects in Iran.


Reliance, which deals with some of the top-notch foreign bankers with huge exposure to the U.S. financial system, exports fuel to the United States and imports ethane from there for its petrochemical plants.


Trade sources have said Reliance recently bought up to 8 million barrels of U.S. crude.


After a gap of six years, Reliance resumed purchases from Iran in 2016 when Western powers eased restrictions on trade with Iran in return for the OPEC member agreeing to end its disputed nuclear program.


During previous sanctions NIOC waived a condition for its oil buyers to open letters of credit.


Since the lifting of sanctions, it has been selling oil in euros, a move that has allowed companies to temporarily continue dealing with Iran, despite the U.S. move to reimpose sanctions.


Iran is also offering deep discounts on sales to recoup market share in Asia, lost to key rivals Saudi Arabia and Iraq.


The company’s global depository receipts are traded in the U.S. market. It is also the first Asian company to float 50- and 100-year bonds on the U.S. debt market, according to its annual report.

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/27919/India-s-Reliance-to-halt-oil-imports-from-Iran-Reuters

 

[Pitcher]

This is a big deal in that other countries are shying away from buying Iranian oil.  Iraq will undoubtedly pick up some of the slack which is just more earning for their coffers.   The Trump Administration is serious about stopping Iranian aggression in the ME.  Hopefully peace and prosperity will finally come to all in the ME!!

[yota691]

 date: 2018 May / May 26 - GMT 10:02

 

 

http://fna.ir/bmktdk

 

St. Petersburg criticizes US withdrawal from nuclear deal

The participants at the 22nd St. Petersburg Economic Forum criticized the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Iran.

The participants in the forum criticized Friday the decisions of US President Donald Trump and insisted on maintaining the nuclear agreement and confronting the unilateral American approach.

The withdrawal of the United States from the nuclear agreement and its future was the main topic of talks between world leaders, especially Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macaron.

The opening and closing sessions of the forum were attended by the Russian and French Presidents, the Japanese Prime Minister and the Chinese Vice President.

[yota691]

Washington - European banks have suspended their dealings with Iran

Readers

 

 

Washington - European banks have suspended their dealings with Iran

 

02-06-2018 03:18 PM

 

The Euphrates -

 

European banks have suspended their dealings with Iran as US President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal from the nuclear deal and the return of sanctions against Iran, the Washington Times reported. 

According to the newspaper, the Swiss bank Commercial Bank (BCP) has suspended new transactions with Iran. 

The bank is the latest institution to suspend its dealings as part of a series of withdrawals from banks and companies from Iran after the United States announced a re-imposition of sanctions on Tehran. 

Financial sources say the bank, which was founded in 1963, was one of the active players in commodity finance in Iran. 

US President Donald Trump withdrew from an international nuclear deal with Iran on May 8 and said he would reinstate sanctions within 180 days, prompting many European companies to announce an end to work with Tehran. 

"We stopped any new deal on Iran after May 8, 2018 and the 'deflationary period' began as part of the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control," BCP said in a statement. 

This comes as the German lending institution announced last month its decision to suspend all financial transactions with Iran in July. 

According to the Washington Times, when the US Ambassador to Germany, Richard Greniel was finally installed in Berlin, one of his first official actions was to call on German companies to stop dealing with the Iranian regime, which he called 'the criminal regime supporting terrorism'. 

Hernell has been heavily criticized by liberal media and advocates of Obama's policies, but weeks later his actions have resulted in some major German companies announcing a suspension of their dealings with Iran.

[Pitcher]

As parliamentarians in Baghdad work to form a new governing coalition in the wake of this month’s elections, their counterparts in Washington are seeking to sanction more than a dozen of the Iraqi legislators over their links to Iran.

The House of Representatives unanimously voted last week on legislation requiring President Donald Trump to sanction “persons that are officials, agents, affiliates of or owned and controlled by” two prominent Iran-backed militias that operate in Iraq and Syria.

The amendment from Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, to a must-pass annual defense authorization bill targets Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, both of which are part of the Shiite-led Popular Mobilization Units battling the Islamic State.

Both militias joined with other Iran-backed military forces as part of the Fatah, or Conquest, political coalition, which came in second in the May 12 elections with 47 out of 329 parliamentary seats. Asaib Ahl al-Haq won 14 of those 47 seats, according to Iraq analyst Kirk Sowell, while Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba did not field any candidates.

“The US Department of Treasury will ultimately determine if the political wing constitutes an affiliate or entity controlled by” Asaib Ahl al-Haq, a Poe aide told Al-Monitor. “Congressman Poe believes [Asaib Ahl al-Haq] will likely be subject to these penalties unless it completely breaks all ties with the armed wing, renounces violence and acts solely as [an] Iraqi political party with no backing from Iran.”

“Political parties are about engaging in peaceful civil discourse, not about representing armed thugs who commit violent atrocities to achieve political ends,” the aide added.

The Trump administration has taken an increasingly hawkish approach to Iran following the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal earlier this month, vowing to go after Iran’s proxies throughout the region. If it so chooses, however, the administration has some wiggle room to avoid sanctioning the 14 new Asaib Ahl al-Haq lawmakers as Iraqi law requires political parties to formally separate themselves from the militias. However, the parties retain the same names as their respective militias and Asaib Ahl al-Haq’s leader, Qais al-Khazali [pictured], has landed a seat in parliament.

The Iraqi Embassy did not respond to Al-Monitor’s inquiries about its positions on the provision.

After Poe introduced similar legislation last year, a Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba spokesman denounced the bill as a “conspiracy and victory for the Islamic State and all other terrorist organizations supported by Washington.”

Despite the conspiratorial rhetoric, both the Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba militias formed an alliance of convenience with the United States during the fight against the Islamic State. Previously, both groups had battled US forces following the 2003 invasion of Iraq with the backing of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The United States has sanctioned the leader of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, Akram al-Kaabi, since 2008.

Despite Washington’s fear of growing Iranian influence in Iraq, Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s nationalist Sairoon Alliance won the most seats. He is now working with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s Nasr (Victory) coalition in an attempt to establish a new government, even as disgruntled parties are demanding a recount.

While Sadr previously directed the Mahdi Army against US troops following the 2003 invasion, he is also critical of Iranian influence in Iraq. This has prompted IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani to coordinate with pro-Tehran parties in Baghdad as a bulwark against Sadr.

Other than potential sanctions on the 14 Iraqi parliamentarians, it remains unclear how much of an impact such measures would actually have on Washington’s ability to do business with Baghdad as Iraqi politicians attempt to create a new coalition.

“The most meaningful impact of sanctions like these is often less on the direct targets and more on their environment,” Nathaniel Rabkin, the managing editor of the newsletter Inside Iraqi Politics, told Al-Monitor. “The more Iraqi entities and persons you sanction, the more US businesses will be cautious about doing business in Iraq more generally and the more carefully they’ll be vetting Iraqi partners.”

The Senate Armed Services Committee advanced its own draft of the annual defense bill last week, but has not publicly released the text.

 

http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2018/06/02/us-congress-targets-iraq-election-winners/

 

[Pitcher]

A state of panic prevails Iranian currency market as billions of dollars have been smuggled abroad in recent years, analysts told The Baghdad Post on Saturday.

Islamic Parliament Research Center (IPRC) said that about USD 59 billion left the country in past two years.

Experts expected the country is expected to witness a severe lack of hard currency after the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
 
IPRC reported that USD 39.2 billion left the country in past year only, which represents 83% of the annual income from the country's non-oil exports.

About USD 20.2 billion left Iran in 2016 because of inability to speculate both political and economic situation in the country in addition to the lack of support for investment.

The real problem is the Mullah regime's policies which burden the country's economy, especially the costly interference in Syria and Iraq to support militias, experts said.

Funding terrorists and US withdrawal from the nuclear deal prompted investors to smuggle their money abroad, analysts said, noting that a looming demise for the regime has become inevitable amid these dire conditions.

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/27982/Failed-regime-policies-prompt-capital-flight-from-Iran

 

[10 YEARS LATER]

Hmm. Dire is-right. Too bad so 😭 so sad.

[yota691]

US Treasury Increases Pressure on Iranian Airlines

- 2 Hours Passed

On 24 May, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control classified nine entities and individuals linked to the provision of services to six Iranian airlines involved in inciting the military activities of the regime in the region. The sanctions aim to bridge the gaps that these companies have used over the years to secure [spare] parts and services related to aviation. The Treasury also referred to 31 individual aircraft that participated directly in sending arms and personnel to Syria (see table below). More steps are likely - and the sooner the better - given Tehran's proven ability to adapt to new sanctions.

Review  ratings

The companies subject to sanctions include Mahan Air, Caspian Air Lines, Mirage Lines, Dina Airways, Buya Airlines and Blue Airlines. The latter is a fictitious company with no fleet.  Marraj, Qazvin and Boya (formerly Yas Aviation) were  listed in August 2014 to support Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard operations in Syria; in fact, Buya is the cargo wing Of the "Air Defense Unit" of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and daily flights through  the air bridge  to Syria.

In June 2011,  the  US Treasury  imposed sanctions  on Iran's national carrier, Iran Air, and its Iranian Air Tours for supporting the Revolutionary Guards and the Iranian Ministry of Defense "through the transfer and / or transfer of goods For or on behalf of such entities ". This included the use of commercial flights to transport "military-related equipment" and "potentially dangerous shipments" to Syria (for example, missile components).

Four months later,  the  US Treasury Department  imposed sanctions  on "Mahan Air" for services to the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah, including "transporting weapons, weapons and money secretly aboard" to Syria and Iraq. Since then,   secondary sanctions have been imposed on more than 200 fictitious companies and individuals because of commercial ties with Mahan. Such steps are aimed at banning any US entities "from engaging in commercial or financial transactions with Mahan Aviation, where any assets that may be owned and subject to US jurisdiction have been frozen."

In May 2013,   the US Treasury Department targeted the purchase and support of Iranian aircraft in Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and other countries, which helped both Mahan and Iran Air to circumvent the sanctions. The Managing Director of Mahan has also been appointed Hamid Arab Nejad along with Ukrainian Airlines across the Mediterranean, Bukovina, Kyrgyz Airways and other subsidiaries. Recent companies have been accused of chartering British Airways BEA 146 / Afro RJ100 and other aircraft to Mahan, some of which have been used to travel to Syria on several occasions. Last year, Mahan used its British BAA / RG fleet to transport Shiite militiamen from Iraq to Abadan in Iran and then to Damascus because they could not fly directly from Iraq to Syria.

And are subject to "Mahan" mainly militant sanctions since 2011, resulting in a halt about a third of its aircraft - type "BAE  E. 146 / RJ ", 16 due to lack of spare parts. However, many of these aircraft have returned to service since last year. The previous sanctions appeared to have been more effective on the Boeing 747, which had not been nearly completed and had to be replaced on international routes with the Airbus A340 aircraft. Under the new sanctions, 10 of the company's individual aircraft were identified, making it increasingly difficult to obtain services and keep them fit for flight. Mahan, now the largest Iranian airline, will gradually feel even more pressure on its entire 36-aircraft fleet, which may force it to seek expensive options such as changing aircraft or changing its brand.

(Click on the table to get a higher resolution version).

Targeting the Iranian "presidential plane"

Since 2011, "Mirage Air Lines" has been the brand of aircraft from the Republic Airplane, the main facility in Iran for the transportation of state dignitaries. This change has allowed the use of government aircraft in profitable operations in the commercial market. The "Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran" maintains the "hangar of the Republic" and "Mirage".

Recently, a new company, Dina Airlines, has taken over VIP operations using two aircraft: the Airbus A340-300 [formerly the Iranian government aircraft operated by the EP-AJA company , registered in November 2017 as a subsidiary of the Iranian airline Dina (EP-DAA) and Airbus A 321-200 [within the Iranian government fleet (EP-AGB)]. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei uses both planes (under the DENA-01 contact tag  ) for his holiday trips to his home town of Mashhad and his resort on the Caspian Sea. They are also used by President Hassan Rowhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Jawad Zarif for their trips abroad.

The "Iran Air - our" ( the EP- the DAA 's ) has bought an Airbus aircraft in 2015 through the intermediary "Aychen Express Airline" ( Password Express , Airline ) from Tajikistan, and was owned at the time of the Iranian millionaire and the ' front man  ' economist Ahmadinejad's government, Babak Zanjani. In 2013, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on most of negroid assets, specifically targeted "Aychen Express" [ Password Express , ] (and reported  that all of the company 's shares were owned by "investment Tonk bank" in Tajikistan, a company founded by Zanjani Holding Company " ( Kont  Kozmetik ).

There was also controversy over the Airbus aircraft in the Iranian government fleet ( EP-AGB ). In 2005, French company Sogerma Services temporarily suspended its work to make the plane a luxury, citing the US sanctions.

The US Treasury Department has not yet included individually two NGOs VIP vehicles belonging to the company , "our" after within the regulations, as they are not classified in the list of secondary sanctions for "Office of Foreign Assets Control " . Certainly, Dina has been included on the list, so the two planes are subject to sanctions. However, as will be discussed below, the announcement of a list that does not include the two main planes of the Supreme Leader seems to be a missed opportunity to send a message to the Iranians and others abroad.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard and its airlines also use a group of fake companies in Armenia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan to buy [aircraft] spare parts and prohibited technical services. Some of these companies have been included in the recent sanctions list, and more likely to be taken against them.

In December 2016, the Office of Foreign Assets Control  imposed sanctions  on the Syrian Sham Wings for providing financial assistance, sponsorship, financial, material or technical support to the Government of Syria and Syrian Arab Airlines. However, the chartered charter company of the Sham Wings Airlines continues to fly to Tehran, at least five times a week, using Airbus A320 commercial aircraft, while it is often assisted by Mahan Air Maintenance. According to a report issued on 6 April by the agency  "Reuters" , the "Wings of Sham Aviation" also transferred the Russian mercenaries and military contractors to Damascus and Lattakia, using Rostov Blatov International Airport as a center. The report estimated that between two thousand and three thousand Russian mercenaries were fighting in Syria.

Similarly, Iran's Revolutionary Guards continue to use Boya Airlines for repeated cargo flights on board the Ilyushin aircraft to Russian cities and Damascus. The new regulation of the US Treasury Department did not include one of the most active aircraft on the routes of the  EP-PUS,  although its serial number was previously listed in September 2012 under a different registration name ( EP-GOM ). All of these aircraft are subject to penalties for being named "Boya Airlines" on the 2014 list, but naming them individually may help airlines and financial companies apply these penalties better.

Implications for US Policy

The IRGC will continue to find ways to circumvent the sanctions, so it is prudent for the US government to continue to pressure, as this role is more effective and sends a stronger message. In particular, the system is likely to continue renaming airlines and establishing new bogus companies to acquire Western aircraft and services; it can also resort to Russian or Chinese suppliers. The latest sanctions on spare parts suppliers may force Mahan and other airlines to buy used or off-air aircraft, Airbus and BAE, to be used as spare parts.

With Mahan clamping down, domestic and international operations will become more expensive and more difficult, which could prompt Tehran to allocate other airlines to maintain Syria's airlift - possibly involving more engagement by Iran Air. Washington must therefore warn Iran that it will not hesitate to include national carrier aircraft (which already make regular flights to Damascus) on its list if the IRGC uses it to fill Mahan's military supply routes. Iran Air has been removed from the sanctions regulations under the 2015 nuclear deal, but the US Treasury Department has said it will re-impose sanctions on all exempt entities by November 5, so the clock may be essentially ticking For the airline.

As for the two planes used by Khamenei, the US Treasury may have a number of technical reasons to keep them out of the list at the moment. However, the ministry should consider naming them individually, at least to reinforce its position that US sanctions are aimed at the regime, not the Iranian people. Such messages can give the Iranians the justification they need to publicly express their doubts about the military activities of the Islamic Republic of the region and its "revolutionary objectives", which are increasingly directly opposed to Iranian national interests.

Farzin Nadeemi

Washington Institute

[yota691]

French Peugeot suspends its activities in Iran to avoid US sanctions

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05/06/2018  Iran 's Peugeot Citroen has suspended its joint activities in Iran to avoid US sanctions after Washington withdrew from the nuclear deal.
The automaker said in a statement it had begun suspending its joint activities in Tehran to comply with US law by August 6.
The suspension of its joint ventures does not alter the financial guidance, the company said, noting that its activities with Iran account for less than 1 percent of total revenue.
The statement said the automaker was seeking exemption from sanctions by US authorities with the help of the French government.
European signatories are scrambling for a nuclear deal to salvage the deal, which seeks to protect trade with Iran in return for curbing Tehran's nuclear program.
Peugeot Citroën and its French rival, Renault, moved quickly to sign new production deals to upgrade partnerships with Iran's Khodro and Saipa before sanctions against Tehran.
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[yota691]

Iran's atomic energy bemoans increasing its ability to enrich uranium

18 views

05/06/2018

Iran

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has announced that it will report to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday the start of a process to increase the capacity of the Tehran reactor to enrich uranium.

Bharuz Kamalundi, a spokesman for the organization said that his country has the great capacity to accelerate the capacity of centrifuges used to enrich uranium, and increase production of uranium hexafluoride.

 Tehran has cut uranium enrichment rates in its reactor after the signing of the nuclear deal in 2015.

zm 

[yota691]

France: Iran's talk about enrichment touches the red line

Readers

 

 

France: Iran's talk about enrichment touches the red line

 

06-06-2018 01:13 PM

 

The Euphrates -

 

French Foreign Minister Jean-Louis Le Duran said on Wednesday that Iran's statement that it might increase its ability to enrich uranium if the nuclear deal collapsed came close to the red line. 

"The red line is always dangerous," he told Europe 1 radio, but said plans to salvage the nuclear deal were still the same. 

Tension between Iran and the West has returned since US President Donald Trump last month decided to pull out of the agreement signed between Tehran and world powers in 2015, saying it was deeply flawed. 

He made the remarks a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged France to take care of Iran's "regional aggression", saying he no longer needed to persuade Paris to withdraw from the nuclear deal, because it would collapse anyway under economic pressure. 

On Tuesday, the United States renewed its position on Iran and the issue of enrichment. State Department spokeswoman Heather Noyert said the United States and the international community had many pressure tools on Iran if it sought to restart a controversial nuclear program. 

"Iran will not be allowed to enrich uranium or any activities that would allow it to develop a nuclear weapon," Nuerat said during a press conference on Iranian leader Ali Khamenei's comments on preparations for uranium enrichment. 

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday he had given instructions to prepare for increased capacity to enrich uranium if the nuclear deal collapsed with major powers after the United States withdrew from it last month. 

Iran also announced that it had informed the UN nuclear watchdog of "preliminary" plans to produce materials for the operation of centrifuges used to enrich uranium.

[yota691]

Washington calls on Tehran to immediately halt all nuclear activities

Readers

 

 

Washington calls on Tehran to immediately halt all nuclear activities

 

06-06-2018 01:09 PM

 

The Euphrates -

 

The State Department on Tuesday reiterated Iran's full suspension of its nuclear activities after Tehran announced its plan to increase its uranium enrichment capacity.

US State Department spokesman Heather Naort told a news conference that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was "clear" in his speech on Iran in May, shortly after President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the nuclear deal with Iran, saying that Iran To stop enriching uranium and never to seek plutonium. ' 

"Iran should not be able to produce a nuclear weapon." 

The statement came shortly after Tehran announced on Tuesday that it would implement a plan to increase its capacity to enrich uranium, stressing that what it does not violate the nuclear agreement signed between the Islamic Republic and the great powers in Vienna in July 2015, which withdrew from the United States on the eighth of May last Europeans are trying to do their best to save him. 

Iran's Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi said his country had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday in a letter 'to start some activities'. "These measures do not mean the failure of negotiations with the Europeans," Salehi said.

[yota691]

 

France: Iran's enrichment of uranium is not welcome

 

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Follow - up / Tomorrow 's Press: 

French Foreign Minister, Jean - Yves Odrian, said on Wednesday that Iran 's steps to increase uranium enrichment capability "is not welcome", but it is in the framework of the agreement. 

"I think that this initiative is not welcome, and it shows Tehran's alarm, but it is dangerous to approach the red line," the minister told France 1 radio.

"The initiative to increase uranium enrichment is within the framework of the Vienna (nuclear) agreement, and all that was said yesterday was within the framework of the agreement," he said in response to comments by Iran's nuclear energy organization. 

"Iran's plans to increase its uranium enrichment capabilities are not in itself a violation of the joint action plan," he said, adding that in the current circumstances "it will not help to enhance confidence." 

The comments came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged France to take care of what he called the "Iranian regional aggression." 

On May 8, Trump announced the withdrawal from the nuclear agreement with Iran in 2015 and the reinstatement of economic sanctions against Tehran, Justified his decision that "the agreement is bad and contains many defects."

[yota691]

The American administration and its positions .. Where Iraq from this? 2-2

Author: لقمان عبد الرحيم الفيلي  07/6/2018 12:00 am    Luqman Faily  In this first article, let us discuss the impact of President Trump's approach on our troubled region, especially on our country, Iraq. The Iranian nuclear deal can not be seen in isolation from the belief that the United States and its five partners believed there was a side advantage of the deal, that time would lead to a process of normalization and relations, and a rapprochement with Iran even after a while.  The deal was reached while geopolitical tension and the Cold War between the United States and Iran on the one hand and Iran and Saudi Arabia (the largest US ally in the region) on the other, are getting hotter in Yemen, Syria, Bahrain, Lebanon and Iraq. In addition, the United States believed that by reaching this new deal, Iran would reduce its focus on ballistic missile development and testing programs. Trump's management concluded that the deal is not achieving its desired benefits, nor does it need to comply with it, especially as its slogan during the election campaign was to withdraw from the agreement. Therefore, Trump's approach to Iran has started by further harsh containment, punishing and insulting the country, seeking to cripple its economy and signaling its readiness to confront Tehran across the Middle East. Here is the point of Iraq.  Does this have anything to do with Iraq? Yes, for sure. For many reasons, Iraq is a major economic partner of Iran and daily deals are carried out across many sectors and through a large number of border crossings. On the other hand, the United States is the only country with which Iraq signed the strategic framework agreement across many vital sectors, and Iraq will need to support the United States in various fields such as infrastructure projects as well as the importance of the security file and develop Iraq's military capabilities, especially that " It ended militarily, but its threat and its security and ideological threat remain.  One can not say with confidence how Iranian reactions to these ferocious US measures will be. Will you succumb to pressure if there is a strong united front against them? Or will it seek to limit the US presence through third countries such as Iraq?  Can this cold war between Iran and the United States become more heated to a real war? And here we must point out the difficulty of finding internal support for the US administration, since the Trump administration has blamed its predecessors for spending American taxpayers' money in unbeatable wars. And unsustainable.  For our part, we do not yet know exactly what the US goal is. Is it regime change in Tehran or just containment in terms of Iranian geopolitical interference coupled with its increased arming and threat to Israel?  Similarly, what is the likely negative impact on national security and economic development of Iraq? Both countries are very important to us, both partners in addressing the major challenges we face. Without knowing exactly what American objectives are, we should not be victims of the contradictions and dangers that others might want to enter.  In the face of things, you see an American project to get out of Syria and engage in a conflict with Iran through a containment policy first. Does Iraq comply with these desires so that we do not create for ourselves an enemy from the United States? I do not think, because the benefits are very limited, not to mention that it will hurt Iraq too, and the pace of change of the American approach does not reassure us. This new major American variable makes us think that we should not be part of a regional bet for America or Iran, because then our bet is not on the land of others but in our own country, where is the logic?  Especially as its internal consequences will have a negative impact on the stability and development of Iraq. Iraq has just concluded new general elections in which new leadership may emerge or the current leadership of the Prime Minister may be renewed.Abadi. With regard to the type of relationship between the two countries, over the past few years, American officials and experts have realized they are cautiously optimistic with Iraq. For them there is a conviction that regardless of the personality of the next Iraqi prime minister, it is unlikely to place Iran's interest above Iraq's interests.  The United States' priority in Iraq will continue to be its partnership in the fight against terrorism and in the fight against Da'ash, but will that exceed the strong focus on containing Iran? Some recent US developments have already tested this new approach.We have to see the administration as it is now, not last year or when President Trump took power.  Iraqis, government and society, need to see the United States differently than before. The new reality says that American interests are the only engine of their foreign policy, and that morality, democracy, and high American virtues are not the main motivations.  right Now. Until the full picture of this new view is finalized, Iraqis must be cautious in dealing with sensitive regional challenges such as Syria and the nuclear file. Our regional policies should not place us in a position to choose between our neighbors or our international partners when they compete elsewhere, Because that would backfire and harm our security  And our development.  The balance of the relationship and the knowledge of the red, green and yellow lines of the parties concerned is very important, and we Iraqis have to show and announce to others the red lines of Iraq. Should we Iraqis ask whether the United States will begin dealing with Iraq as another hot spot in its broad anti-Iranian regional campaign? Iraq and the United States are still engaged in a major joint campaign in the war against terrorism, which should not be sidetracked by the US campaign against Iran, since this joint mission is not yet complete. All Iraqis may agree on the fear that Iraq will be the arena for settling Iranian-American calculations. But what is the reaction of Iraq (the government and the people)? Especially in light of the strong political influence of the United States and neighboring Iran in the Iraqi arena. Should we fear the negative impact of this powerful conflict on the formation of the next Iraqi government and the possibility of some Iraqi political parties making concessions at the expense of the country's interests for partisan or narrow bloc calculations? As for the US relationship with Iraq, the security and stability of Iraq must be vital to their national and regional security. With regard to Iraq and the region, it is necessary for the United States to consider the unintended and unintended consequences of its strong and fierce sanctions against Iran. Especially after the recent recovery of Iraq from the occupation, "urging" parts of his country, and Iran needs to consider the security of Iraq as an integral part of its security. Here the United States and Iran must be wary of not allowing their enmity to flow into Iraq.  And on the Iraqi side to undertake a detailed analysis of the objectives and expected results of US sanctions on Iran and to know the impact on Iraq's politics and economy so as not to Iraq within the target area of US blockade. Here, the Government of Iraq must assess the main risks of these sanctions and mitigate their negative impact on us.Playing in the middle, as Iraq is trying, will be much harder than before.  Finally, we say that the dialogue between the United States and Iran is the ideal, but this may not happen until a while. The US administration will soon, with congressional elections at the end of this year, at a crossroads, either it sees that the scope of its movement and maneuvers expanded and has confidence in the internal support for its foreign policies fierce or it will be specific and restricted movement and therefore less options. We have to wait and seek, save Iraq  And his family.

[yota691]

Boeing is under the management of Trump and applies sanctions to Iran

- 7 Hours Ago

Boeing has announced that it will not hand over any aircraft to Iran in line with US sanctions against Tehran. Weeks after Washington canceled Boeing and Airbus licenses for Iran in implementation of a decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal.

The Boeing spokesman said in Washington that the Boeing spokesman said it no longer has a license to export aircraft to Iran, which indicates the cancellation of the Minister of Treasury for the licensing of export of aircraft and components and related services to Iran under the US President's decision to withdraw from the Iranian nuclear agreement and the return of economic sanctions on Iran.

The European Airbus is heavily dependent on the manufacture of its aircraft on components manufactured in America, he said, adding that US authorities are moving to prevent all US companies from entering into any new deals with Iran in all fields.

US Treasury Secretary Stephen Manuchein said last month that licenses to Boeing and US Airbus to sell passenger planes to Iran could be revoked after the United States decided to withdraw from Iran's nuclear deal.

Aircraft orders 
were Iranian Airlines (Iran Air) asked two hundred passenger aircraft, including one hundred and eighty Airbus Boeing, along with twenty aircraft from "any T - R" French Italian engine maker chopper.

Boeing plans to hand over one of the planes this year, but delayed delivery after US President Donald Trump threatened to pull out of the nuclear deal in 2015 before his threat was implemented in May.

Officials from the two foreign ministries and the Treasury are touring the world to pressure countries to reduce their trade with Iran, officials said. Officials from the two ministries visited Japan and others this week will visit countries in Western Europe such as Britain, France and Germany.

Exempt companies in 
return, Reuters news agency reported that the foreign and finance ministers of Germany, Britain, France and responsible foreign policy in the European Union sent a message to the foreign and finance ministers of the Americans on trade sanctions on European companies operating in Iran.

Reuters said European officials confirmed in the letter their countries' commitment to the nuclear deal with Tehran and urged the United States to exempt European companies from trade sanctions. The letter said that European ministers would identify areas they want to be exempted from US sanctions, including the pharmaceutical, healthcare, energy, civil aviation, automobile and banking sectors.

The letter stressed that Iran's withdrawal from the nuclear agreement would destabilize the region, and European officials said any additional conflict would be catastrophic.

The Al-Jazeera correspondent in Washington said it was unclear whether Washington would respond to the European request to exempt its companies from sanctions against Iran.

These developments come at a time when the European countries signatories to the nuclear agreement of Iran (France, Britain and Germany) to save the agreement in light of Tehran's suspicions of the ability of the Europeans to provide concrete guarantees to preserve Iran's interests, especially with regard to the sanctions imposed on them.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Lauderian said on Tuesday that Iran's statement that it could increase uranium enrichment if the nuclear deal collapsed came close to the "red line". Iranian leader Ali Khamenei said on Monday that he had given instructions to prepare for increased capacity to enrich uranium if the nuclear deal with major powers collapsed after the United States withdrew from it.

Source: Al Jazeera, Reuters

[normala rashid]

Throwing away my rial i dont see potential in trump era . Iran will join crypto system for economic and make europe as parnertship business . 

[yota691]

Obama administration gave Iran secret access to U.S. financial system, GOP says

John Bacon, USA TODAYPublished 3:08 p.m. ET June 6, 2018

     

(Photo: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

CONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE

The Obama administration gave Iran brief access to the U.S. financial system as part of the Iran nuclear deal despite specifically telling Congress that such access would remain banned under terms of the controversial agreement, a report released Wednesday by Senate Republicans claims.

"Officials repeatedly testified to Congress that Iranian access to the U.S. financial system was not on the table or part of any deal," says the majority report of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. 

Despite those claims, the Treasury Department, at the direction of the State Department, "granted a specific license that authorized a conversion of Iranian assets worth billions of U.S. dollars using the U.S. financial system," the report says.

Even after the license was issued, U.S. government officials continued to maintain in congressional testimony that Iran would not gain access to the U.S. system, according to the report.

The conversion to dollars, it turns out, never took place. And there is no claim that the license broke U.S. law. Most Republicans opposed the Iran deal, from which President Trump withdrew last month.

 

Democrats on the committee neither signed on to the report nor issued a minority report of their own. But Jarrett Blanc, former State Department coordinator of the Iran deal, called the report "wildly overblown." He said the license was not made public but that Obama administration officials were "transparent with Congress."

"This isn't just rehashing old fights," Blanc said. "The administration and its Hill supporters are trying to make it harder for the government to do the hard, day-to-day work of making sanctions effective without pushing Allies and partners to find work arounds."

 

The report says the revelation shows the importance of global access to the U.S. financial system, a factor that should be considered in future negotiations with Iran. The issue also shows the importance of a close working relationship on such deals between Treasury and State, and the importance of closely overseeing such deals, the report says.

 

The U.S., China, France, Russia, Germany and Britain signed a temporary deal in 2013 aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions in exchanged for a rollback of crippling financial sanctions. Almost two years later the countries signed the permanent deal, which went into effect Jan. 16, 2016.

In February 2016, the "special license" was issued. It was designed to allow Iran to briefly convert into dollars from Omani rials about $5.7 billion worth of Iranian assets frozen in an Omani bank. The dollars were then to be converted into euros.

According to the report, a senior State Department official explained that such “transactions are prohibited by U.S. sanctions that are still in place, and which we were clear we would not be removing as part of the (Iran deal). Nevertheless, as a gesture of support for Iran’s getting access, we helped on this as we will on other cases.”

U.S. banks, however, balked at the transfer plan despite encouragement from U.S. officials, the report says. Iran protested to administration officials, but transfer into dollars never took place.

Eventually, Iranian officials "stopped complaining to the State Department" and converted small amounts of rials directly to euros without using the U.S. financial system, the report says.

After the Trump administration pulled the US. out of the nuclear deal, European nations began talks with Iran aimed at continuing the agreement without U.S. participation. No deal has yet been struck.

[yota691]

Report: Trump demanded Saudi Arabia to adjust oil prices before the decision against Iran

 07 June 2018 09:00 PM
Mubasher : A senior US administration official has asked Saudi Arabia to help maintain oil price stability a day before a withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal, press reports said. 

According to Reuters, quoting informed sources on Thursday, a senior official in the US administration contacted the Saudi Crown Prince Prince Mohammed bin Salman before announcing the withdrawal from the nuclear agreement to make sure that Washington can rely on Riyadh, if the impact of this decision on the supply of Oil.

The sources said the call took place on May 7, noting that Washington was concerned that the sanctions would limit deliveries of crude from Iran and raise oil prices.

"We have been aware of the decision of the joint comprehensive joint action plan before the American declaration of withdrawal from the nuclear deal. We always have talks with the United States on the stability of the oil market," the report said.

OPEC is scheduled to meet on June 22 to discuss its own production policy, with expectations that it could raise oil production.

A previous report said the US government had asked Saudi Arabia and some OPEC members to increase oil production by one million barrels per day.