Iranian official calls for negotiations with Washington in Iraq

[Pitcher]

Europe has had over 70 years of peace.  There is only one reason for that peace.  They might want to stop appeasing a country that wants to destroy them (Iran), and start working with the country that has liberated them twice.  Europe received favored trade status with the US after WWII to help them get back on their feet.  70 plus years later they are taking advantage of those outdated trade deals and flooding our markets with their autos and steel, putting our workers in those industries at risk.  Their indignation over President Trump’s request for them to pay for their own security ( NATO) and unwillingness to form more fair trade agreements is infuriating.  To me it’s very simple. Close all the bases in Europe and bring all our Military home.  Maybe that would get their attention.  

[blueskyline]

https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/09/20/key-supporter-of-iranian-president-rouhani-tells-him-to-resign-like-a-hero/........SEPT. 20TH

Key Supporter of Iranian President Rouhani Tells Him to ‘Resign Like a Hero

AFP/Jewel SAMAD

 

20 Sep 201864

Gholamhossein Karbaschi, a key supporter of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, grew noticeably less supportive on Wednesday when he called on Rouhani to “resign like a hero or wake up from his heavy slumber and talk to the people transparently.”

Karbaschi, formerly mayor of Tehran and current secretary-general of the Executives of Construction Party, called Rouhani “sedentary” and said he needs to become more honest with the Iranian people if he decides to remain in office.

It is a tough decision. But if he cannot work properly, he should step down like a hero and tell the people that he tried his best but he could not do anything. This might help him to evade the hatred of the people, even if he is not a hero,” he said. 

Radio Farda explains the complex politics of Karbaschi’s call for resignation, which is significant even with its escape clauses and qualifications because until now only Rouhani’s political enemies have asked him to step down:

The Executives of Construction party is where First Vice-President Es’haq Jahangiri comes from while Vice-President Mohamad Baqer Nobakht and Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi are from Moderation and Development party. Both of these parties are the legacy of former President Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani; Rouhani’s mentor and spiritual father.

Several media commentaries during the past year have attributed the failure of Rouhani’s economic policies partly to the differences between the three officials.

Others have called for Rouhani’s resignation before, but all of those who wanted Rouhani to step down so far were his opponents and political rivals. What makes Karbaschi’s call different is that he is Rouhani’s supporter and political ally.

This comes while some hard-line MPs such as Amir Khojasteh have said that if Rouhani fails to solve the country’s economic problems, members of the Parliament would table a motion to impeach him for his “incapability.”

Former ultra-conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has also called on Rouhani to resign. The firebrand conservative has also called on Majles Speaker Ali Larijani and his brother Judiciary Chief Sadeq Amoli Larijani to step down.

As the New York Times conceded on Wednesday, the “experts” were comprehensively wrong about how Trump’s policy would play out. Some predicted Iran would get along just fine, and indeed American businesses would be the big losers because European firms would rush to rescue Iran and pick up lucrative contracts the Americans left lying on the table. Others thought sanctions would backfire on Trump and hurt him politically by causing American gas prices to increase.

Instead, Iran’s oil industry is crumbling even before the tougher round of U.S. sanctions hits in November, Europe has little respite to offer, international corporations are fleeing from Iran trade, American oil prices have scarcely budged, and Rouhani’s allies are advising him to think about a new career. 

UPI on Wednesday declared Iran’s economy has entered a “spiral meltdown” as the second tranche of U.S. sanctions approaches:

According to Iran’s Central Bank in August, the inflation rate will reach 60 percent this year. The Iranian rial has hit a record low against the U.S. dollar amid a deterioration in the economic situation and the reimposition of sanctions by the United States. The country’s active work force is 26 million, of whom at least 10 million are jobless. Youth unemployment is at a staggering 40 percent. Many university graduates are unable to find a job.

Even Afghan migrants who sought refuge in Iran have been forced to return to their war-torn country because of the dire economic situation. At least 33 percent of the population live under the absolute poverty line, ISNA official news agency reported in April, which means that they are unable to meet their essential daily needs.

The crucial issue, which loops back to Karbaschi’s complaint about Rouhani’s lack of transparency, is that most of Iran’s banks have already gone bankrupt but the government refuses to admit how serious the financial crisis is. The Iranian people are furious that domestic spending programs have been slashed to finance foreign military adventures in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. They know the impact of the second tranche of American sanctions in November will be utterly devastating to the weakened Iranian economy.

As UPI notes, frittering away the windfall Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama bestowed upon Iran was largely a decision made by the superior theocratic half of Iran’s bizarre divided government, but both the people and the Iranian political elite are losing faith in Rouhani as any sort of “moderate” balance against the bloodthirsty mullahs.

CNBC reported on Wednesday that economic anxiety is “widespread” in Iran despite the government’s efforts to tamp it down. The soaring optimism of the Iranian tourist industry in the early days of the nuclear deal has given way to gloom and empty hotels that were expanded in 2015 at great expense. Most of the major international airlines have given up on service to Iran.

“Rising inflation, currency devaluation, and bad government policies have led to a scarcity in products needed for the hotel project and prices on goods are only increasing day-by-day,” one hotelier lamented.

Iran’s political class is torn about whether Rouhani should attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York next week, with some calling on him to boycott the event as a response to President Trump’s “insults.”

As of Thursday, Rouhani seemed set on making the trip to New York, possibly in the hope of making last-ditch appeals to European leaders for rescue from U.S. sanctions. On the other hand, the Europeans have made it fairly clear they cacannotn’t do much more for Tehran as their corporate interests are worried about losing American business or triggering secondary sanctions by doing business with Iran, and there are fears Trump could engineer an encounter that humiliates Rouhani or further divides the Iranian political establishment.

Trump has expressed very mild interest in meeting with Rouhani at the U.N., along with considerably greater interest in discussing Iran’s appalling human rights record and warning European companies to stay away from Iran when the sanctions hammer comes down in November.

 

 

 

 

[blueskyline]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-lawyer-giuliani-says-irans-government-overthrown-003548650.html.....

Trump lawyer Giuliani says Iran's government will be overthrown

ReutersSeptember 22, 2018, 7:34 PM CDT

• 
• 
• 
• 

4 / 4

Rudolph Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City, delivers a speech during the 2018 Iran Uprising Summit in New York

Rudolph Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City, delivers a speech during the 2018 Iran Uprising Summit in Manhattan, New York, U.S., September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky

More

NEW YORK (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani on Saturday said that U.S. sanctions on Iran are leading to economic pain that could lead to a "successful revolution," contrasting with administration comments that government change in Tehran is not U.S. policy.

"I don't know when we're going to overthrow them," said Giuliani, who spoke in his own capacity though he is a Trump ally, at an Iran Uprising Summit held by the Organization of Iranian-American Communities, which opposes Tehran's government.

"It could be in a few days, months, a couple of years. But it's going to happen," Giuliani told a crowd at a hotel in Times Square.

Giuliani's comments were in contrast with the Trump administration's policy of not seeking a change of government even though it is reimposing sanctions that are crippling Iran's economy.

Trump ripped up a global deal on Iran's nuclear program in May and his administration is snapping back sanctions on the Islamic Republic, including measures on its oil exports from Nov. 4.

The Trump administration hopes the sanctions will force Iran not only to curb its nuclear program but also halt militancy in the Middle East.

Iran says it has complying with the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran, the United States and five other world powers. A quarterly report by the U.N. atomic watchdog late last month said Iran had remained within the main restrictions of the agreement.

Trump's National Security Adviser John Bolton told Reuters in August that "regime change" in Iran is not American policy. He said the administration wants a massive change in the regime's behavior.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused U.S. backed Gulf Arab States of carrying out a shooting attack at a military parade that killed 25 people on Saturday, though he did not name the regional states he believed were to blame.

"The people of Iran obviously have now had enough," Giuliani said on Saturday. "The sanctions are working. The currency is going to nothing ... these are the kinds of conditions that lead to successful revolution.”

Giuliani has suggested before that the re-imposition of sanctions was aimed at regime change. At a conference in June where he addressed the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran, he said Trump's policy would suffocate Iran's ayatollahs.

The U.S. State Department has said Giuliani does not speak for the administration on Iran.

 

(Reporting by Alice Popovici in New York and Timothy Gardner in Washington; Writing by Timothy Gardner; Editing 

[blueskyline]

www.swfinstitute.org/swf-news/former-iran-central-bank-governor-banned-from-leaving-country/.......FORMER IRAN CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR BANNED FROM LEAVING THE COUNTRY . SEPT.23 TH 2018

[blueskyline]

https://observer.com/2018/09/saudi-arabia-uae-praises-trump-iran-maximum-pressure-un-speech/.....

Trump Praised by Middle East Nations for Iran ‘Maximum Pressure’ After UN Mockery

By Davis Richardson • 09/26/18 9:58am

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

 

President Donald Trump addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 25, 2018 in New York City. John Moore/Getty Images.

Although President Trump was laughed at by world leaders during his speech before the United Nations on Tuesday, his Iran hardline found a supportive audience with representatives for countries throughout the Middle East.

Subscribe to Observer’s Politics Newsletter

 

“We supported him pulling out of the Iran deal,” Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir told the 2018 Iran Summit.

 

 

“What we’re encouraged from by the Trump administration is their concern over how to raise the costs for Iran,” added United Arab Emirates Ambassador to the United States Yousef Al Otaiba. “It’s important to have international global pressure. Iran has to feel they have no one left to turn to.”

Sixteen Middle East and U.S. policymakers convened at the summit in Midtown to discuss ways to contain the theocratic regime. The Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Agreement in May was frequently cited as the driver behind plunging Iranian oil exports, and an eviscerated currency value.

 

At the onset of the gathering, former Senator Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) was given an Iranian coin by United Against Nuclear Iran’s (UANI) CEO Mark Wallace to commemorate, what they hoped would be, the impending collapse of the regime.

Citing rising protests in Tehran and “optimism toward the direction things are going with Iran,” Lieberman praised Trump’s decision to restore sanctions—receiving applause from the audience of diplomats upon just mentioning the president’s election.

While the leaders were optimistic, they also recognized the growing threats from the regime—especially its financing of terrorist networks.

“We need to look at how the money is being funneled into Bahrain and how our banking institutions launder money,” said Bahrain’s ambassador. “We thank the United States for working with us so we don’t fall into the same traps going forward.”

 

At the end of the summit, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton both addressed the crowd of dignitaries.

Pompeo criticized the European Union’s intention to establish a work-around to U.S. sanctions, while Bolton warned of “hell to pay” if Iran continued aggravating other nations.

Both men received standing ovations

 

Filed Under: Politics, International Politics, National Politics, Donald Trump, 

Nine on the Hudson 

1:

5 Things You Never Knew About Meghan Mrkl

1:42

Princess Claire Is Luxembourg’s Answer to Kate Middleton

1:24

Get Into the Holiday Spirit at These Festive Pop-Up Bars

1:17

Amazon Reveals 20 Cities That Could House Its Next Headquarters

1:15

President Trump's Tweets: A Year in Review

0:55

President Trump's Tweets: A Year in Review

0:55

Here’s What the Stars Wore to the 2018 SAG Awards

1:06

Who Was Nominated for the 2018 Oscars?

1:21

Key Ta

[screwball]

Only a matter of time before the government falls...

[Butifldrm]

Thursday، 27 September 2018 10:59 AM

 

EU sets to defy U.S. sanctions on Iran, Pompeo disturbed, disappointed

FacebookTwitterGoogle+EmailWhatsApp

 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

European countries have announced intentions to preserve business with Tehran and evade U.S. sanctions within a legal framework, raising tensions between the European Union and the United States.

After talks Monday with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said the Europeans would set up a legal business entity to transfer money without coming under Washington’s scanner.

Britain, France and Germany, in addition to Russia and China, had all pleaded for U.S. President Donald Trump to adhere to the 2015 Irannuclear deal framework.

For his part, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on the sidelines of the 73^rd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 73), said he was “disturbed and indeed deeply disappointed” by the EU announcement.

“This is one of the most counterproductive measures imaginable for regional and global peace and security,” Pompeo said in a speech. “By sustaining revenues to the regime, you are solidifying Iran’s ranking as the number-one state sponsor of terror.”

The U.S. has recently reinstated tough economic sanctions which, according to Trump, will remain in place as long as Iranian aggression continues.

“This is one of the of the most counterproductive measures imaginable for regional and global peace and security,” Pompeo said.

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/31723/EU-sets-to-defy-U-S-sanctions-on-Iran-Pompeo-disturbed-disappointed

[Butifldrm]

Thursday، 27 September 2018 11:19 AM

 

EU proposes plan to rescue Iran's economy, circumvent sanctions

FacebookTwitterGoogle+EmailWhatsApp

 

Speaking to the United Against a Nuclear Iran campaign, John Bolton warned Iran’s leaders as he said, “We are watching, and we will come after you.”

Speaking on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in New York, Federica Mogherini, the EU external affairs chief, said the special purpose vehicle (SPV) “will help persuade an increasingly reluctant Iranto stay inside the deal in the hope of rescuing its economy.”

Mogherini added the SPV was designed to facilitate payments related to Iran’s exports including oil and imports under EU law.

As he spoke at the 73^rd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 73) Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, stressed Tehran’s continued commitment to the Iran Nuclear Deal, reached in Vienna in July 2015.

Rouhani also accused the U.S. of pressurizing other countries into violating the nuclear agreement.

According to Reuters, traders said oil markets were tightening ahead of Washington's planned sanctions on Iran's petroleum industry from Nov. 4.

Recently, European countries have announced intentions to preserve business with Tehran and evade U.S. sanctions within a legal framework, raising tensions between the European Union and the United States.

“This is one of the of the most counterproductive measures imaginable for regional and global peace and security,” Pompeo said.

John Bolton, Trump’s hawkish national security adviser, also “mocked the European Union for its lack of detail on the planned mechanism.”

Speaking to the United Against a Nuclear Iran campaign, Bolton warned Iran’s leaders as he said, “We are watching, and we will come after you.”

Moreover, Bolton has denied that the United States is seeking to overthrow the regime in Tehran

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/31724/EU-proposes-plan-to-rescue-Iran-s-economy-circumvent-sanctions

[blueskyline]

https://m.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/31703/U-S-targets-Iranian-general-Qasem-Soleimani......

26 Sep 2018 | 11:19 AM

 

U.S targets Iranian general Qasem Soleimani

The US is implementing measures to specifically target Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, who heads the Revolutionary Guard Corps, Brian Hook, who has been appointed as specialrepresentative and chief of a new “Iran Action Group” said on Tuesday.

Soleimani works with 10,000 fighters in Iraq against the United States, he added.

 

Hook said also that U.S. sanctions on Iran will snap back in November. These sanctions will include targeting Iran's energy sector and petroleum-related transactions, and transactions with the Central Bank of Iran

He stressed that the private oil companies have to choose between U.S. and Iran.

“We are seeking a reach a new agreement with Iran, including the nuclear file, terrorism, and its missile system,” Hook said

[Butifldrm]

Iran 's economy has stopped exporting a food package to Iraq

 

 Twilight News    

 

 one hour ago

 

 

(Reuters) - Tehran has decided to stop exporting a range of foodstuffs to Iraq at a time when Iran is experiencing economic problems after Washington re-imposed economic sanctions on it.

Musharraf, the governor of the province of Khuzestan, southwestern Iran, Ghulam Reza Balouti, to prevent the export of a range of food to Iraq through the crossing, "attractive" border.

He explained to the agency "Fares" Iranian decision to prevent goods come to regulate the domestic market, and reduce the price of these products unreasonably.

The Iranian official pointed out that the food items included in the decision are tomatoes, sauce (tomato paste), meat, bran and soy.

Iraqi markets rely heavily on Iranian products. Iranian products are priced at competitive prices when compared to other countries due to the proximity of shipping and for currency exchange considerations.

The financial adviser to the Iraqi Prime Minister, the appearance of Mohammed Saleh, earlier, told Agence France-Presse that "the Iraqi market widely consume Iranian goods of agricultural nature, cars and food and other materials such as building materials and so on."

Earlier, Iran suspended the export of electricity to Iraq for several reasons, including financial and other priority to meet Iran's electricity needs.

The interruption of the supply of electricity from Iran to Iraq, to increase the hours of power cuts in some Iraqi provinces, which led to a wave of protests in the central and southern provinces of Iraq.

The volume of trade exchange between Iraq and Iran during the last year about 6.7 billion dollars, including 77 million dollars only is the value of Baghdad's exports to Tehran, according to an official source in the Iraqi Ministry of Commerce.

 

Keywords: 

http://www.shafaaq.com/ar/Ar_NewsReader/3e29cb7c-d227-4049-a1a5-c5539d9ad26d

[Butifldrm]

 

British Times: Europe should stand with Trump against the Iranian regime

 

 by Tomorrow

 

Date: 12:40 PM, September 27

"Trump, during the UN General Assembly, put his political influence on the table to rally support to isolate the Iranian regime diplomatically and economically," the Times newspaper reported .

"Nevertheless, the US allies and opponents are trying to isolate the president and reward Tehran, and thus threaten the most important actors within the European Union, including Britain, the credibility of the transatlantic alliance."

These forces stand against Washington and destroy the credibility of sanctions as an effective political tool against tyrannical regimes. "There is no moral justification to maintain an agreement that is expected to slow progress towards war, but it gives all freedom to a repressive regime to participate in other wars," the paper said.

The newspaper said it was "purely commercial opportunism" and posed a threat to the cohesion of the Western alliance and advised Britain not to participate.

http://www.alghad.tv/تايمز-البريطانية-على-أوروبا-أن-تقف-مع-ت/

[yota691]

Iraq faces sanctions against Iran

- 1 Minute Ago

Iran's fortunes large in the Iraqi parliament .. Will he be able to save from sanctions ?! 
In the series of US sanctions on Iran and its entry into force, US President Donald Trump has confirmed that it is the worst, that it will reach a higher level in November and warned anyone who deals with Iran that he will not be able to deal with the United States. 
US sanctions on Iran included two packages, the first freezing financial transactions and imports of raw materials, and the sectors of cars and commercial aviation. 
The sanctions against the Iranian government also prohibit the purchase or possession of US currency, Tehran's precious metal trade, Iranian currency transactions and activities related to Iran's sovereign debt issuance. The second package will be carried out in November and will reach a higher level of risk.

The sanctions on Iran and its repercussions on Iraq:
The financial adviser says the appearance of Mohammed Saleh, the US sanctions imposed on Iran, will negatively affect the Iraqi economy, adding: The Iraqi market widely consume Iranian goods of agricultural nature, cars, food and building materials, and others, Iranian goods, whether food or non-food. 
The Iraqi researcher in the name of Antoine that in the first stage will not show the repercussions of Iran's sanctions on the Iraqi market, given the availability of Iranian goods, but later it will be difficult for Iraq to compensate these goods at competitive prices, Antoine said that Baghdad will look for other sources in neighboring countries to compensate goods But it will take some time.
Between 2 million and 3 million Iranians visit holy sites in Karbala and Najaf, and each tourist pays $ 40 in fees for a permit to enter Iraq. 
The Iraqi markets rely very heavily on Iranian products, which will lead to a severe recession of these markets, under the application of US sanctions, says Abbas Makhilaf (Iraqi electrical appliances) that Iraq has factories that import spare parts from Iran, and will stop completely because of sanctions, Pointing out that the raw materials from Iran cheaper than any other country, due to the proximity and exchange rate difference. 
Iran is exploiting the Iraqi economy:
Iraq's geographic specificity, and its relationship with Iran, will make the Iraqi economy an outlet for Tehran to escape from US sanctions. Iran will rely more on Iraq and rely on its arms in the Iraqi state and its loyal militias.
All this has made Iran exploit the Iraqi markets and the Iraqi economy in particular to get out of its stifling crisis. The Iraqi armed militias, known for their loyalty to Tehran, threatened that they would break the sanctions and provide Iran with the aid needed to disperse the impact of US sanctions. 
Economically, a number of banks and major banking companies in Iraq have stopped banking transfers with Iranian banks, which has a major impact on the Iranian economy. Iraq is Iran's "commercial lung" as it is called by specialists. The volume of trade exchange between the two countries last year was more than 13 billion dollars, according to Tehran's ambassador to Baghdad, Irj Masjidi, to be ranked first among all other trading partners of Iraq.

An expert in the field of currency handling Abdul-Hassan al-Lami: The remarkable activity of groups working to buy the dollar in a fake Iraqi currency. 
He added that the activity of these groups emerged after the imposition of US sanctions on Tehran recently, and that they - the totals - working freely and in coordination with senior officers in the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior, ending certainly that the secret of the strength of the movement of Iran and its activity in Iraq is linked to the militias. 
These militias are not only working for Iran at these borders, according to Lami, but have threatened to kill a number of traders if they stop buying Iranian goods. 
Iraq is buying large quantities of energy and electricity from Iran, and stopped private Iranian companies in the recent period of energy supplies to the province of Basra in southern Iraq, causing a crisis and demonstrations in the province.
On the other hand, warned many economists, from suspicious operations carried out by Iran, to get dollars from Iraq, and led to the devaluation of the dinar, after the currency became worthless, following the application of Iraqi banks to the US sanctions decision. 
Iraqi economists attribute the devaluation of the Iraqi dinar against the dollar to the purchase of Iranian traders through their agents in Iraq, the hard currency from the Iraqi markets to face US sanctions by banning dealing with Tehran in dollars, warning of methods aimed at dumping the Iraqi market in counterfeit local currency to buy the dollar, That the Iranian riyal is worthless in transactions inside and outside Iraq. 
This is one of Iran's malicious methods. The other method is to double the drug trade and inject large quantities of narcotics into the Iraqi market, in order to get Iran through the dollar.

In addition, well-informed sources pointed out that several Iraqi investors in Iran suffered heavy losses after the fall of the Iranian currency and were exposed to fraud by those banks that announced a 15% interest on the fixed deposit by promoting that Iranian banks Hundreds of Iraqis deposited billions of dollars in Iranian banks, through their branches inside Iraq, in addition to some Iraqi banks. 
For his part, the Central Bank of Iraq, an official letter to all Iraqi banks authorized, not to deal in dollars with Iranian banks. 
The deputy governor of the bank, Munther Abdul Qadir al-Sheikhli, that in an official document addressed to all Iraqi banks, which included guidance: The Board of Directors of the Central Bank decided to continue to ban the dollar deal with branches of Iranian banks.
"With regard to the euro, it is up to the European Central Bank and European banks to deal with the euro. 
"This move to abandon the US currency will have a negative impact on trade between the two countries," he said, noting that it would be difficult to maintain the trade level under the sanctions imposed on Tehran.

With regard to Iran's incursion into the government, observers believe that US sanctions on Iran are directly proportional to the increase in its weight in Iraq and its role in forming the Iraqi government, especially after the announcement of the results of the elections, which were re-counted manually after the rigging and destruction of the votes of voters. 
Observers believe that Iran is seeking greater economic gains in Iraq, to compensate for the embargo imposed by the US sanctions, which began to apply, using the Iraqi elections pressure paper to revive its position through its allies of the winning candidates.
The political analyst, Ahmad al-Abyad, says the more American pressure on Iran, the more certainly the Iranian space in Iraq is not easy, and trying to invest to ease the pressure on the internal situation, it is very clear that it uses the Iraqi elections pressure paper internally and externally, Close to it, so that Iraq becomes a lung to ease the blockade on it, Iran's chances in the Iraqi parliament is large, as they have about (80-90) ally candidates and vote for their projects, and the equation will not be easy.

Shatha Khalil * 
Economic Studies Unit 
Center for Research and Strategic Studies

[yota691]

US sanctions against Iran threaten US dominance

 

 27 September 2018 07:15 PM
Editing - سالي إسماعيل:

Direct: The painful sanctions on Iran showed the control of the US Treasury, which forced many countries of the world to comply and reduce oil imports from Tehran.

However, to fall into the early stages of a long story may end up eroding the strength of the US dollar, according to an analysis published by Oil Price.

The role of the green card in the international financial system is seen as the reason why the United States can prevent many countries from buying oil from Iran.

Oil trades in dollars, and most international trade relies on the US currency, with around 88% of all foreign exchange transactions actually linked to the green paper.

Moreover, multinational companies inevitably have business relations with the United States, so when faced with a choice between business with Iran or loss of access to the financial system of the United States and the US market, the choice is easy.

This means that even if European governments, for example, support the import of oil from Iran, the dominance of the US-based financial system leaves European countries with very few tools to do so.

European policymakers sought to maintain ties with Iran as they tried to persuade Tehran to abide by the terms of the nuclear deal, which was passed in 2015, and the Iranian state remains committed to the deal.

But this does not mean that European oil refineries, which follow private companies, will risk being exposed to US sanctions by continuing to import oil from Iran.

In fact, these European refineries have already started a significant cut in crude oil purchases from Iran months ago.

The dollar is the strongest .. so it seems

But this is not the end of the story. Through many ways, the Bush administration is helping to create a growing threat to the dollar even if it is difficult to see at this time.

Indeed, the dollar has been able to rise this year, as the US GDP has grown faster than other industrialized economies and the world has been forced to comply with US sanctions in a growing list of countries and entities, notably Russia, Iran and Venezuela.

However, foreign policy bearing the motto of "America First" and trade wars and the apparently arbitrary character of tariffs, transatlantic tensions and other geopolitical matters all drive the dollar away from its bullish path.

But the heavy use of sanctions is the most important factor that is likely to ultimately undermine the dominance of the US dollar, some experts say.

This is especially true with regard to sanctions against Tehran. In the case of Iran, the United States has imposed sanctions as a means of managing the country's governance system, says Kelsi Davenport, an analyst with the Arms Control Association.

"The United States has put a lot of countries in a very difficult position," he told the Washington Post in August.

Just a few days ago, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in a speech that the euro must be upgraded to a reserve currency to reduce the European dependence on the US dollar.

 Juncker also said that the EU pays about 80% of its energy imports in dollars even though only 2% of that energy is obtained from the United States.

"There is no logic at all in pushing for energy imports in dollars, not euros," Juncker told Politico.

For example, most dollar-denominated imports come from Russia and the Middle East.

These imports speak of the nature of the US-controlled international financial system, in which European refineries wishing to obtain oil from Iran, Iraq or Russia must buy it in US dollars and comply with Washington's demands even though there is no role for any American entity In this process.

It is clear that as long as there is a consensus between European and American interests, the system is going well, but the interests of the two sides have varied over a range of issues including NATO, the Paris Climate Agreement and, more importantly, the Iranian nuclear deal.

The demands of the Trump administration from Europe to cut its imports from Iran to zero seem to be the last straw, and some in Brussels now call for the departure of the transatlantic partnership agreement.

Europe's inability to soften the impact of US sanctions on Iran showed the dollar's dominance, prompting European officials to seek solutions.

Some suggested the launch of a competing international payment system, while others suggested buying Iranian oil in euros.

Last August, the European Union announced an 18-million-euro aid package to Iran.

More recently, the European Union, led by France, Germany and the United Kingdom, has been working on a special proposal to create a financial company to help Iran avoid US sanctions and continue selling its oil.

The company would handle payments for deals with Iran and bypass conventional financing, the Spiegel newspaper reported.

There are many reasons why this initiative is not likely to be progressable or has only limited impact. For example, private companies need to agree to this cooperation and so far there is little evidence that European refineries are prepared for this risk.

Trying to raise the euro to the same dollar position globally would be very difficult and could be a long-term project.

But growing efforts to upgrade the euro or complete oil sales in euros, along with a few other initiatives aimed at weakening the impact of Washington's financial hegemony, could erode the dollar's dominance over time.

At the same time, earlier this year, China, for its own reasons, launched yuan-denominated yuan contracts in Shanghai, a move aimed at boosting the Chinese currency and reducing the risk of foreign exchange, in a broader sense, gaining geopolitical and economic influence at the expense of the dollar.

The dollar remains strong, but the heavy use of Trump's sanctions management, which has been hammered out in a tough crackdown on Iran, could undermine the long-term green card if other countries begin to look for alternative solutions.

[yota691]

 

[yota691]

High oil prices due to sanctions on Iranian crude

 

Friday, September 28

 

 

 

 

BAGHDAD (Reuters) -  Oil prices rose on Friday as investors sought to gauge the potential impact on supplies as a result of sanctions the United States plans to impose on Iranian crude exports.  London Brent crude for December delivery rose 15 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $ 81.53 a barrel by 05:48 GMT.  The nearest November contract ends Friday, at $ 81.73 per barrel. The contract rose to a four-year high of $ 82.55 a barrel on Tuesday. Brent is up 5.6 percent in September on the path to the biggest monthly gain since April.  US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 19 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $ 72.32 a barrel. Crude is heading for a 3.6 percent gain this month, the biggest increase since June.  The sanctions on Iran will begin on Nov. 4, and Washington demands that Iranian oil buyers cut imports to zero, to force Tehran to negotiate a new nuclear deal and reduce its interference in the region.

[Pitcher]

Breaking: Qasem Soleimani survives assassination attempt in Baghdad

FacebookTwitterGoogle+EmailWhatsApp

 

Qasem Soleimani

Iranian Major General in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (ICRG) and commander of its Quds Force Qasem Soleimani has allegedly survived an assassination attempt, after a bombed car targeted his motorcade on Baghdad road.

 

More details to be followed.

 

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/31766/Breaking-Qasem-Soleimani-survives-assassination-attempt-in-Baghdad

[10 YEARS LATER]

It's getting Hot As Hell over there !

[yota691]

Asia's imports of Iran's oil hit their lowest level in two months

29-09-2018 12:26 PM

Readers

 

Baghdad News -

TOKYO (Reuters) - 

Asian importers' biggest imports of Iranian oil fell to a two-month low in August, hurt by a drop in South Korea's purchases of more than 80 percent ahead of imminent US sanctions on Iran. Tehran. 

China, India, Japan and South Korea last month imported 1.57 million bpd from Iran, 4.1 percent less than in August 2017, a drop of 300,000 bpd from the previous month, government data and tanker data showed. The total purchases of four Iranian crude are expected to fall further in the coming months as Washington presses allies to cut their Iranian oil imports to zero as soon as sanctions begin on November 4.

Iranian oil and condensate exports fell 0.8 million bpd between April and September, according to the International Finance Institute. South Korea's imports in August plunged 84.2 percent to 64,516 barrels a day, while sources said they halted all shipments of Iranian oil from July for the first time in six years. China's imports of Iranian crude rose 2.3 percent in August on an annual basis to 80,439 barrels a day, while Beijing earlier this year stopped publishing detailed data on the country's crude imports.

China's Sinopec has cut shipments of Iranian crude this month as state oil companies are under intense pressure from Washington to comply with a US ban on Iranian crude, informed sources said. The sources did not specify the quantities, but based on the supply contracts between China's largest refineries and Iran's national oil company, Sinopec's shipments would fall to about 130,000 bpd. That represents 20 percent of China's average daily imports from Iran in 2017, a blow to Tehran, which is counting on keeping its top oil customers on imports, while European buyers and others in Asia cut their purchases to avoid US sanctions.

One of the sources said the move came after senior US officials visited the refineries in Beijing last month and asked for significant cuts in Iranian oil purchases. The source said: "This round is completely different from the previous time, when the tone was to give advice, but this time it is like a final warning." 

The sources asked not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the matter, while Sinopec refrained from comment, and the Iranian National Oil Company did not respond to a request from Reuters to comment. Sources in the shipping and insurance sectors said the most complicated issue was Iran's difficulty in securing insurance for its oil vessels. Most European and US-based reinsurance companies are gradually winding down their activities with Iran.

Japan's imports of Iranian oil in August rose 65.3 percent year-on-year to 17,7475 barrels a day, according to monthly data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. 

Oil prices rose yesterday, as US sanctions against Iran's crude exports pressured Iran. Brent crude futures rose more than a dollar to $ 82.73 a barrel, the highest level since November 2014. Light crude futures rose 10 cents to $ 72.22 a barrel. 

"The drop in Iranian production is expected to increase once the second round of US sanctions comes into force on Nov. 4," said Abhishek Kumar, an analyst at Interfax Europe.

 

 

 

[blueskyline]

http://economy-news.net/content.php?id=13824........

Riyadh raises its oil output after a Chinese "strike" on Iran

Economy News _ Baghdad

 Saudi Arabia has provided a major guarantee to the world oil markets by announcing a big jump in production capacity in tandem with the impending deceleration of Iran's exports, which has received a new blow from China's Sinopec cut its purchases from Tehran by half as Russia's production peaked.

Saudi Aramco will add a new crude oil production capacity of about 550,000 barrels per day in the fourth quarter, boosting its ability to meet market needs as US sanctions against Iranian supplies are tightened, a well-informed source said.

The source stressed that the increase in production capacity will come at the rate of 250 thousand barrels per day from the Khurais field, which produces light crude high sulfur, raising the field's production capacity to 1.5 million barrels per day.

He added that another 300 thousand barrels per day will come from the resumption of production from the field of Menifa giant, which pumps heavy crude high sulfur, after solving some maintenance problems.

Analysts say the new increase in the world's largest oil production capacity will not increase overall production capacity at the declared level of 12 million bpd but will give Aramco greater flexibility in increasing supplies and reaching higher productivity levels faster than before.

Saudi Arabia is currently pumping about 10.5 million bpd and will quietly add more crude to the market over the next two months to offset a fall in Iran's output.

These figures confirm that Riyadh can gradually increase production by 1.5 million barrels per day, meaning that it alone can compensate most of Iran's supplies, which fell to less than two million barrels last month more than two months before the second phase of US sanctions came into force.

Iran received a new blow yesterday, with well-informed sources saying China's state-owned Sinopec cut Iran's crude shipments this month by half after it was believed China was the last resort for Iranian exports.

The sources said Chinese state oil companies are under intense pressure from Washington to comply with a US ban on Iranian crude, which could be used as a bargaining chip in the tough trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing.

Supply contracts between China's largest refiner and Iran's national oil company indicate that Sinopec's shipments will fall to about 130,000 barrels per day, equivalent to half of its purchases last month and a 20 percent drop in China's total purchases from Iran compared to last year's levels.

Although Beijing has not declared a position on the purchase of Iranian oil, it may leave government companies to choose what serves its interests as its activities are linked to the US economy and the possibility of being subject to US sanctions and fines.

The cut represents Sinopec's biggest cut in years at a time when the state-run company listed on the New York Stock Exchange is under direct pressure from the US administration, which is determined to stifle the flow of dollar oil sales to Tehran.

One of the sources said the move came after senior US officials visited the refineries in Beijing last month and asked for significant cuts in Iranian oil purchases. "This tour is completely different from the previous one. That time the tone was to give advice, but this time it's like a final warning. "

Sources in the shipping and insurance sectors said that the more complicated the issue was facing Iran with difficulty in securing insurance for its oil vessels. Most of the reinsurance companies based in Europe and the United States are gradually winding down their activities with Iran.

Chinese buyers, including Sinopec and the government-run trade company Zhuhai Zhenrong, have since July shipped their cargo to vessels owned by the Iranian National Tanker Company to maintain the flow of supplies as the United States reinforces economic sanctions on Iran.

During the last round of UN sanctions on Iran in 2011, officials from Washington asked Chinese companies to cut their investments in Iran's oil and gas fields, but declined to demand a complete halt to oil shipments.

Meanwhile, Reuters quoted an energy source as confirming that Russia's average oil production has risen to 11.347 million barrels per day since the beginning of this month and is heading towards a post-Soviet record.

The data indicate that Russia is at the forefront of countries that increased production to compensate for the decline of Iranian exports, although they are a few allies of Tehran

[blueskyline]

September 28, 2018 04:34 PM

 

Britain is moving to ban Hezbollah and stifle Iran

LONDON (Reuters) - London is considering banning the Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrilla group after calls by a number of ministers , the Guardian newspaper reported .

Britain has banned its armed militias since 2008, but has not banned its political wing. 

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt is pressing for tough action against Hezbollah, but the Interior Ministry, led by Sajid Javed, has yet to confirm any sanctions.

Hunt is also keen on pressuring Tehran to release Nazanein Zagari Ratcliffe, a Briton of Iranian origin, who is being held in Iran for espionage. He said Iran was using Nazneen as a "diplomatic hostage."

Critics of Hezbollah in Britain, including Labor MP Joan Ryan, say there is no real difference between the military and political wings of Hezbollah, saying they encourage the export of terrorism.

Until recently, the British government justified the ban on Hezbollah's political wing from wanting to maintain relations with the Lebanese government, which the party is entering on, based on "security recommendations."

But in a statement after taking office, the foreign minister said Hezbollah was a "disgraceful and repulsive organization," referring to his "total refusal," referring to the party's military and political wings.

The head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the British Parliament Tom Tugendat, that the ban on the political wing of Hezbollah, will not affect the relations between the British and Lebanese governments. 
It is noteworthy that Hezbollah is classified as a terrorist group in the United States, Canada, Israel and many Arab countries.

The European Union announced the banning of Hezbollah's political wing in 2012, after attacks on a bus carrying Israeli tourists in Bulgaria, killing five tourists as well as the Muslim bus driver.

Count

Short link

•  

[ChuckFinley]

I can only hope they can put this country to bed. They are nothing but trouble. 

[Pitcher]

Countering Iran’s subversive actions key to Middle East peace, Saudi FM tells UN

JEDDAH: Stopping Iran’s disruptive activities is crucial to realizing Middle East peace, Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat told the UN on Friday.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said that the Kingdom believes halting Iran’s “subversive strategies” is an important part of solving the many conflicts plaguing the Middle East.
“Our region has never been spared from the scourge of terrorist groups”, Al-Jubeir told world leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York, before outlining Iran’s support for terrorist grounps around the region.
“Iran continues its terrorist activities and its aggressive conduct”, said Al-Jubeir. “Saudi Arabia supports the US’ strategy in dealing with Iran.”
“We reiterate our call for greater international cooperation to end terrorism in all its forms, to dry up funding sources, to punish those who support terrorists,” he said.
Al-Jubeir said the Houthi militia in Yemen depend on Iran, who have provided them with ballistic missiles, which they have fired toward Saudi cities. 
He reiterated that the only resolution to the Yemeni conflict is political and that Saudi Arabia would “continue to facilitate all humanitarian efforts to end the disaster plaguing the Yemeni people.”
“We have sought to support the Yemeni economy, including recently with an establishment of a $2 billion fund based at the central bank of Yemen.”
He also said that the Qatar boycott was necessary as the country supports terrorism and harbors extremists as well as allowing hateful rhetoric through its media outlets.

“Sovereignty is a red line that cannot be crossed,” he said. On Thursday, he said Canada’s leadership was “playing into the hands of extremists” when it demanded the Kingdom release individuals held for serious crimes.
“My country repudiates any and all intervention in domestic affairs,” the Kingdom’s foreign minister said.

 

 

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1379506/saudi-arabia

 

 

[Pitcher]

Europe’s central banks to open channel for Iran

EU Commissioner Federica Mogherini meets Iran's Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif

 

September 29, 2018 at 7:01 pm

 

The Iranian foreign minister announced Friday that the central banks of certain European countries had agreed to form special financial channels to ease trade with Iran, Anadolu Agency reports.

Foreign minister Javad Zarif stated that seven national central banks had agreed to form a special mechanism and praised the efforts put forth by France, Germany, Russia, the UK and EU officials.

“In a following step, the European central banks will upgrade the mechanism to a corporate structure,” Zarif said.

Speaking on state television, the Iranian foreign minister said establishing the mechanism would be time-consuming but that Iran would complete its share rapidly.

Zarif cited EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini as saying that the channels would not only be used in trading with Iran but also with Tehran’s other business partners.

The channels aim to sidestep unilateral US sanctions against Iran.

 

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180929-europes-central-banks-to-open-channel-for-iran/

[Pitcher]

I’m wondering if we stop dealing with Europe now or is there a possible breakthrough in the US -Iran stalemate on the Nuclear Deal.  

If Europe is thumbing their nose at the US then I’m all for closing our Military bases there and bringing our soldiers home.  

We will need to watch this development pretty closely.  

[3n1]

3 hours ago, Pitcher said:

I’m wondering if we stop dealing with Europe now or is there a possible breakthrough in the US -Iran stalemate on the Nuclear Deal.  

If Europe is thumbing their nose at the US then I’m all for closing our Military bases there and bringing our soldiers home.  

We will need to watch this development pretty closely.  

 

agree pitcher , then maybe the EU could fill the US military void with their pals from hezbollah ,, sorry for the snarkiness .. cheers dv