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Iranian official calls for negotiations with Washington in Iraq


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Oil prices fall in anticipation of US sanctions against Iran

Oil prices fall in anticipation of US sanctions against Iran
 
 23 October 2018 10:58 p

Mubasher : Oil prices fell during Tuesday's trading with anticipation of the results of the application of US sanctions against Iran on the supply of crude.

By 7:40 am, Brent crude for December delivery fell 0.8% to $ 79.17 a barrel.

US crude futures for December delivery fell 0.6% to $ 68.93 a barrel.

The United States will begin sanctions on companies importing crude from Tehran on Nov. 3, a move that threatens to reduce supply.

Data from South Korea showed that crude imports from Iran stopped in September.

A memorandum issued by JP Morgan last week raised its estimate for the price of Brent crude next year at $ 83.50 per barrel, partly because of the tightening of supply as a result of US sanctions against Iran.

The US Petroleum Institute is due to announce later today its preliminary inventory data.

However, press reports reported last month that Russia and Saudi Arabia had agreed to increase production to restore balance to the market as sanctions against Iran began.

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2018/10/23 10:12
  • Number of readings 598
  • Section: Iraq
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US Treasury enslaves Iraq's exception from sanctions on Iran

 

 

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The US Treasury Department on Tuesday (October 23, 2018) ruled out the possibility of countries exempting from sanctions imposed on Iran. 

"It will be difficult for countries to get exemptions for Iranian oil sanctions, more than the Obama administration," Treasury Secretary Steve Menuchin said in a tweet on Twitter Oct. 23, 2018.

Menuchin refused, fears of rising oil prices, "noting that" the market, "oil," already considered in the loss situation. "

In the past years, Iraq has imported large quantities of fuel from Iran, such as gas oil, as well as foodstuffs, electricity, gas, refined oil, building materials, cars and agricultural crops, making the Iraqi market a major source of hard currency. To Iran.

US President Donald Trump declared May 8, 2018, his country's withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal and the resumption of sanctions suspended as a result of the deal.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared his country's commitment to sanctions, but later said he intended not to deal with the dollar with Iran, rather than boycotting it.

Follow the obelisk - agencies

 

http://almasalah.com/ar/news/153838/الخزانة-الأميركية-تستعبد-استثناء-العراق-من-العقوبات-على-أيران

 
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The US Treasury rules out Iraq's exclusion from sanctions against Iran

Readers

 

 

8
The US Treasury rules out Iraq's exclusion from sanctions against Iran

 

23-10-2018 01:37 PM

 

The Euphrates -

 

The US Treasury Department on Tuesday (October 23rd, 2018) ruled out the possibility of countries exempting from sanctions imposed on Iran.


"It will be difficult for countries to get exemptions for Iran's oil sanctions, more than the Obama administration," Treasury Secretary Steve Menuchin said in a tweet on Twitter Oct. 20, 2018. 

Menuchin refused, fears of rising oil prices, "noting that" the market 'oil', already considered in the loss situation. 

In the past years, Iraq has imported large quantities of fuel from Iran, such as gas oil, as well as foodstuffs, electricity, gas, refined oil, building materials, cars and agricultural crops, making the Iraqi market a major source of hard currency. To Iran. 

US President Donald Trump announced May 8, 2018, his country's withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal and the resumption of sanctions suspended as a result of the deal. 
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared his country's commitment to sanctions, but later said he intended not to deal with the dollar with Iran, rather than boycotting it.

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In Major Concession, Trump Will Allow Iran To Remain Connected To SWIFT

Profile picture for user Tyler Durden
Wed, 10/24/2018 - 18:33

In a stark reversal from its position just days earlier, the Trump administration is expected to allow Iran to remain connected to the SWIFT banking system the Washington Examiner reports, in what amounts to a major concession to European allies who have been pressuring senior U.S. officials to keep this key lifeline to the Islamic Republic open.

As recently as this weekend, Reuters reported that in order to further isolate Iran from the global financial community, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin said that the U.S. Treasury was in negotiations with the Belgian-based financial messaging service SWIFT which intermediates the bulk of the world’s cross-border dollar-denominated transactions, on disconnecting Iran from the network. Washington has been pressuring SWIFT to cut Iran from the system as it did in 2012 before the nuclear deal.

The latest reversal comes as a result of 'ongoing talks between top U.S. officials and European allies "who have been pressuring the Trump administration to take a softer line on Tehran" ahead of the Nov. 4 implementation of new sanctions on Iran.

The unexpected move has been met with "frustration" by Iran hawks both on Capitol Hill and elsewhere who have argued that SWIFT continues to provide Iran with a critical financial lifeline which it is using to fund terrorist operations across the region despite its ailing economy. Yet despite opposition from the "hawks", Iran will remain connected to the SWIFT system

As reported previously, Trump has been under pressure for months from European allies to keep Iran connected to SWIFT, despite fierce opposition to the move among some inside the administration and many legislative allies on Capitol Hill.

In the past months, as European allies pressured the Trump administration to take a softer line with Iran, SWIFT has emerged as a key sticking point. While the Trump administration had vowed to choke off Iran's financial routes, senior officials appear to have softened that stance in the face of European pressure.

In August, Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called in August for a system that was an alternative to SWIFT and would allow "financial independence" from Washington, that would possibly keep the nuclear agreement with Iran alive.

Meanwhile, as Europe scores a diplomatic victory, the internal battle over Iran's access to SWIFT - which has been brewing for months - will likely remain at the forefront ahead of the implementation of new sanctions next month due to opposition by the Israelis and others who aim to see Iran completely iced out of the international banking system.

"The Europeans are clowning the Americans," said one source familiar with the recent discussions between American and foreign officials. "They sold [Treasury Secretary Steve] Mnuchin on this idea that keeping Iran on SWIFT will generate intelligence—the word they keep using is ‘leads'—and Mnuchin is now echoing Obama talking points about how sanctioning some banks is enough."

In addition to criticism from within the neocon community, Trump's reversal is also odd in that it contrasts with what Steven Mnuchin said as recently as a few days ago: as we reported on Sunday, he said that the administration is working to prevent sanctioned transactions from taking place via SWIFT.

"I can assure you our objective is to make sure that sanctioned transactions do not occur whether it’s through SWIFT or any other mechanism," he told Reuters. "Our focus is to make sure that the sanctions are enforced."

While Mnuchin would not offer details on the nature of U.S. talks with SWIFT leaders, he vowed the administration would "quickly" identify banks that can continue conducting transactions under the rubric of humanitarian aid to Iran. "We want to get to the right outcome, which is cutting off transactions," Mnuchin said.

Separately, a Treasury Department spokesman told the Free Beacon the administration will closely police the body's activities to ensure that no sanctioned Iranian entities can use it.

"Treasury has made it very clear that we will continue to cut off bad Iranian actors, including designated banks, from accessing the international financial system in a number of different ways," the official explained. "We will also take action against those attempting to conduct prohibited transactions with sanctioned Iranian entities regardless of the mechanisms used."

The latest statement from Mnuchin and other Treasury Department officials, however, has not assuaged fears and some of the biggest hawks demand a fullblown crackdown. Mark Dubowitz, a sanctions expert and chief executive of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, which has pushed hard for crippling sanctions on Iran, told the Free Beacon that Iran must be fully iced out from SWIFT, as was done with North Korea recently as a result of its rogue nuclear program.

"Recently SWIFT's board of directors wisely expelled designated North Korean banks without EU direction; they would be wise to do the same thing against banks used by the Islamic Republic of Iran to finance its dangerous and destructive activities," Dubowitz said. "The SWIFT board backed by the U.S. Treasury Department should preserve the integrity of the global financial system; allowing bad banks to stay on SWIFT to threaten the integrity of that system is bad practice and bad policy."

While the US decides whether or not to implement full sanctions on Iran, the possibility remains that Tehran may opt for an alternative currency transfer system being currently developed by Russia, and one which according to unconfirmed reports has also seen tentative participation interest by Europe. Should Trump engage in a full lockdown, that may be just the catalyst that prompts Europe to join the "Russian version" of SWIFT, thereby further eroding the dollar's "weaponized" influence around the globe.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-10-24/major-concession-trump-will-allow-iran-remain-connected-swift

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How Iran won a face-off with the US in Iraq

Despite Washington's best efforts, it appears Iran will likely remain a trusted ally in post-sectarian Iraq.

Hassan Ahmadianby Hassan Ahmadian
6 hours ago
  •  
  •  
 
Barham Salih, Iraq's newly elected president, walks with Iraq's new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi at the parliament headquarters, in Baghdad, Iraq October 2, 2018 [Khalid al Mousily/Reuters]
Barham Salih, Iraq's newly elected president, walks with Iraq's new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi at the parliament headquarters, in Baghdad, Iraq October 2, 2018 [Khalid al Mousily/Reuters]

Following Iraq's "inconclusive" national election on May 12, the United States tried hard to guarantee a second term for former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Washington's special envoy Brett McGurk spent months talking Iraqi politicians into following the American blueprint aimed at isolating Tehran and "keeping anyone friendly to Iran out of power." But it was all in vain. The US failed to place its desired candidates in the important positions ofprime ministerpresident and speaker of the parliament. Instead, Iran's Iraqi allies got their way. All three positions were filled with new faces who would not allow Iraq to turn its back to Iran.

Iran needed to make sure that Iraq's new government would not tilt towards Washington, and support the renewed US sanctions - the way Abadi did. Abadi had adopted the new set of US sanctions against Iran in August, in an attempt to countervail the electoral setback he faced in May and ensure a second term. And in doing so, he broke the Tehran-Washington compromise that brought him to power in 2014. Ironically, his anti-Iran posture received the strongest pushback from Iraq's political elite, and not Iran. He failed to control even MPs of his own coalition, andfinally McGurk had to let him go. The Basra upheaval was the last nail in his premiership's coffin.

Importantly, a less US-inclined independent politician Adel Abdul Mahdi replaced Abadi. In a clear message to Iran, Abdul Mahdi opposed his predecessor's abidance by renewed US sanctions with an article in a Persian outletwhich he had been publishing in for years. Additionally, he was designated as PM by Barham Salih, the new Iraqi president whose election beyond Kurdish consensus was seen in Tehran as another blow to the special envoy McGurk and in extension to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)'sMasoud Barzani. The latter's nomination of Fouad Hussain was widely perceived as an effort to belittle Iraqi national politics.

How we got here

The May 12 election came amid political and social turmoil in Iraq, caused by the defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS), the Kurdish referendum and the re-taking of Kirkuk by Baghdad. Moreover, it was the first election after Baghdad's re-establishment of political ties with Riyadh - an actor keen to push back against Iran's elevated position in post-ISIL Iraq. Moreover, US was following a policy of maximum pressure on Iran, which had direct consequences for Iraq. Barzani was ready to jump on Washington's bandwagon because of his ire with Tehran's support for the re-taking of Kirkuk

Against this backdrop, the Islah (Reform) coalition including Muqtada al-Sadr, Haider al-Abadi, Ammar Hakim and Iyad Allawi was announced in Baghdad's Babel Hotel on August 19. The alliance, with the support of Washington, had hoped to attract minor parties and secure majority in the Parliament. Three unexpected developments, however, made such an outcome impossible. First, the Fatah - State of Law Bina (Construction) coalition, led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, announced its formation and declared that it holds the majority in the parliament. Second, smaller Sunni parties such as National Movement for Development and Reform refused to join the US-backed Islah coalition. And third, Abadi failed to control his own Nasr coalition, especially after the Basra upheaval in southern Iraq. Following these three developments, McGurk was forced to abandon his dream of keeping Abadi in office.

The race for the presidency was another story. Traditionally, the post is determined through a consensus within the Kurdistan Regional Government, however, the inability of the Kurds to unite behind a candidate moved their rivalry into Iraq's national politics - where Salih was elected decisively. Salih's election sets a new precedent in which the process of electing presidents is no longer a solely Kurdish matter, but rather a national one. Two hours into his presidency, Salih named Abdul Mahdi as the new prime minister.

Why did Iran win

Iran's recent victory against the US and Saudi Arabia in the Iraqi political landscape is first and foremost a result of the trust it has built in the country over decades. The US is not a trusted actor in Iraq due to its inconsistent policies. While the Shia believe Americans allowed Saddam's regime to crush them in 1991 and did nothing to stop ISIL's advances in 2014, the Sunnis consider the 2003 occupation as an "American betrayal". The Kurds, on the other hand, are angry over the US' inaction in the face of ISIL advances in 2014 and their loss of Kirkuk in 2017. Most Iraqi's however, view Iran as a consistent force. They may not support all of Tehran's policies, but they all trust its consistency. It took Tehran decades to build this trust, just as it took the US decades to lose it.

This trust played a significant role in the lead up to the election of a new prime minister. Despite their "nationalist" tendencies, both the Saairun (Marching) and Hikma (Wisdom) movements refused to support Abadi's decision to implement the new US sanctions on Iran. After months of intense negotiations, Saairun agreed to support Abdul Mahdi's candidacy alongside the Fatah coalition - knowing that Abdul Mahdi was Iran's favoured candidate. On Iraq's Sunni scene, despite US and Saudi efforts, many Sunni parties and figures chose to go against their post-2003 tradition and eventually also sided with the Iran-backed coalition. As a result, Mohammed al-Halbousi the favoured candidate of the Iran-backed coalition, was elected as speaker.

President Salih's election was also very much linked to Iranian support, with reports that McGurk tried to talk him out of candidacy. Turning the presidency into a national issue, on the other hand, was a strategic gain for Iran against the secessionist KRG.

In short, Iran managed to secure a supportive prime minister, a friendly president and, for the first time, helped elect a very supportive speaker of parliament. Above all, it managed to showcase that it remains a trusted ally for Iraq, even as the country carves its way into more diverse and less sectarian politics. Recent developments demonstrated that a cross-sectarian Iraq is not going to be an anti-Iran one. Therefore, Washington's plan to minimise Iran's influence in Iraq by "forming a strong Iraqi government on national basis" and a cross-sectarian coalition did not work. In other words, the "break down" of Iraq's "sectarian loyalties" is not happening at the expense of Iranian influence. This is a huge achievement for Tehran and and a bigg loss for Washington.

https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/iran-won-face-iraq-181018101229959.html

Edited by Butifldrm
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20 minutes ago, Butifldrm said:

In a stark reversal from its position just days earlier, the Trump administration is expected to allow Iran to remain connected to the SWIFT banking system the Washington Examiner reports, in what amounts to a major concession to European allies who have been pressuring senior U.S. officials to keep this key lifeline to the Islamic Republic open.

 

I think this is far from over. Once The United States Of America mid term election is over and it is Wednesday, November 7, there will likely be added momentum to isolate Iran financially and economically. A misstep from the Insanians, like firing missles at Israel from Iraq or sinking a commerce ship in the Strait of Hormuz, will likely spell a very, very quick and abrupt end to the Insanian ruses.

 

Ah, just my conjecture, thoughts, opinion, and :twocents: for whatever THAT is worth!!! CAVEAT EMPTOR, Reader!!! :o

 

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

 

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

:rodeo:   :pirateship:

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Iran plans to supply more than 20 million barrels of oil to China

01:42 - 25/10/2018

 
image
 
 

Follow - up - News balances 
Igor Sechin , CEO of Russian oil giant Rosneft said on Thursday that Iran plans to supply more than 20 million barrels of crude oil to the port of Dalian , China in the months of October and November. 
He added that this will be a sharp increase from the usual monthly volumes that were not more than three million barrels

 
 
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Abdul Mahdi reveals the government's position on US sanctions against Iran

2510201823562544782590_1056414664543228_6607262385474371584_n.jpg

 

First meeting of the new cabinet

2 hours ago

7249 views

+ -

Digital Media NRT

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said on Thursday that the country's interests and independence should be given priority over the United States' efforts to impose sanctions on Iran .

"The government wants to keep Iraq out of any interference in the affairs and affairs of other countries, whether neighboring or any other country," Abdul Mahdi told a news conference today (October 25, 2018).

He added that "the completion of the completion of the cabinet will be completed soon, stressing that there are no problems in this aspect . "

"We presented the cabinet early in order to avoid a vacuum due to the end of the term of office which could lead to a crisis in the country," he said.

It is worth mentioning that the formation of the government of Adel Abdul-Mahdi incomplete, has produced some resentment in the Iraqi political circles, while politicians and activists on social networking sites launched a wave of ridicule.

H

http://www.nrttv.com/AR/News.aspx?id=5827&MapID=2

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Mahdi is being a a real leader here , putting his own country first , like "America First" . I would imagine Trump doesn't  ,like it much ,but I bet he admires it .  Any relationship, transcending from personal to international , requires compromise . This is good news disguised as bad news  

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17 hours ago, yota691 said:

Iran plans to supply more than 20 million barrels of oil to China

01:42 - 25/10/2018

 
image
 
 

Follow - up - News balances 
Igor Sechin , CEO of Russian oil giant Rosneft said on Thursday that Iran plans to supply more than 20 million barrels of crude oil to the port of Dalian , China in the months of October and November. 
He added that this will be a sharp increase from the usual monthly volumes that were not more than three million barrels

 
 

Smoke some more Igor, or maybe another shot of Stoli , not happ'in Dude   ............... I'm callin' :bs:  on this Fake News

Semper Fi :salute:

RV there yet ?:pirateship:

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1 MIN READ

  •  
  •  
 

VERONA, Italy (Reuters) - Iran plans to supply more than 20 million barrels of crude oil to the Chinese port of Dalian in the October-November period, up sharply from the usual monthly volumes of up to 3 million barrels, Igor Sechin, the CEO of Russian oil major Rosneft, said on Thursday.

Reporting by Oksana Kobzeva; Writing by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Christian Lowe

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China keeps buying Iranian oil, and the trade war adds a reason to defy US sanctions

  • China, the world’s top crude-oil buyer, imported around 718,000 barrels a day on average from Iran between January and May of this year.
  • China's imports are equivalent to more than one-quarter of Iran’s oil exports.
  • China has increased Iranian oil purchases by near-10 percent recently and is not expected to stop buying when U.S. sanctions go into place in November.
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On 10/24/2018 at 7:00 PM, Butifldrm said:

How Iran won a face-off with the US in Iraq

Despite Washington's best efforts, it appears Iran will likely remain a trusted ally in post-sectarian Iraq.

Hassan Ahmadianby Hassan Ahmadian
6 hours ago
  •  
  •  
 
Barham Salih, Iraq's newly elected president, walks with Iraq's new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi at the parliament headquarters, in Baghdad, Iraq October 2, 2018 [Khalid al Mousily/Reuters]
Barham Salih, Iraq's newly elected president, walks with Iraq's new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi at the parliament headquarters, in Baghdad, Iraq October 2, 2018 [Khalid al Mousily/Reuters]

Following Iraq's "inconclusive" national election on May 12, the United States tried hard to guarantee a second term for former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Washington's special envoy Brett McGurk spent months talking Iraqi politicians into following the American blueprint aimed at isolating Tehran and "keeping anyone friendly to Iran out of power." But it was all in vain. The US failed to place its desired candidates in the important positions ofprime ministerpresident and speaker of the parliament. Instead, Iran's Iraqi allies got their way. All three positions were filled with new faces who would not allow Iraq to turn its back to Iran.

Iran needed to make sure that Iraq's new government would not tilt towards Washington, and support system" rel="">support the renewed US sanctions - the way Abadi did. Abadi had adopted the new set of US sanctions against Iran in August, in an attempt to countervail the electoral setback he faced in May and ensure a second term. And in doing so, he broke the Tehran-Washington compromise that brought him to power in 2014. Ironically, his anti-Iran posture received the strongest pushback from Iraq's political elite, and not Iran. He failed to control even MPs of his own coalition, andfinally McGurk had to let him go. The Basra upheaval was the last nail in his premiership's coffin.

Importantly, a less US-inclined independent politician Adel Abdul Mahdi replaced Abadi. In a clear message to Iran, Abdul Mahdi opposed his predecessor's abidance by renewed US sanctions with an article in a Persian outletwhich he had been publishing in for years. Additionally, he was designated as PM by Barham Salih, the new Iraqi president whose election beyond Kurdish consensus was seen in Tehran as another blow to the special envoy McGurk and in extension to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)'sMasoud Barzani. The latter's nomination of Fouad Hussain was widely perceived as an effort to belittle Iraqi national politics.

How we got here

The May 12 election came amid political and social turmoil in Iraq, caused by the defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS), the Kurdish referendum and the re-taking of Kirkuk by Baghdad. Moreover, it was the first election after Baghdad's re-establishment of political ties with Riyadh - an actor keen to push back against Iran's elevated position in post-ISIL Iraq. Moreover, US was following a policy of maximum pressure on Iran, which had direct consequences for Iraq. Barzani was ready to jump on Washington's bandwagon because of his ire with Tehran's support system" rel="">support for the re-taking of Kirkuk

Against this backdrop, the Islah (Reform) coalition including Muqtada al-Sadr, Haider al-Abadi, Ammar Hakim and Iyad Allawi was announced in Baghdad's Babel Hotel on August 19. The alliance, with the support system" rel="">support of Washington, had hoped to attract minor parties and secure majority in the Parliament. Three unexpected developments, however, made such an outcome impossible. First, the Fatah - State of Law Bina (Construction) coalition, led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, announced its formation and declared that it holds the majority in the parliament. Second, smaller Sunni parties such as National Movement for Development and Reform refused to join the US-backed Islah coalition. And third, Abadi failed to control his own Nasr coalition, especially after the Basra upheaval in southern Iraq. Following these three developments, McGurk was forced to abandon his dream of keeping Abadi in office.

The race for the presidency was another story. Traditionally, the post is determined through a consensus within the Kurdistan Regional Government, however, the inability of the Kurds to unite behind a candidate moved their rivalry into Iraq's national politics - where Salih was elected decisively. Salih's election sets a new precedent in which the process of electing presidents is no longer a solely Kurdish matter, but rather a national one. Two hours into his presidency, Salih named Abdul Mahdi as the new prime minister.

Why did Iran win

Iran's recent victory against the US and Saudi Arabia in the Iraqi political landscape is first and foremost a result of the trust it has built in the country over decades. The US is not a trusted actor in Iraq due to its inconsistent policies. While the Shia believe Americans allowed Saddam's regime to crush them in 1991 and did nothing to stop ISIL's advances in 2014, the Sunnis consider the 2003 occupation as an "American betrayal". The Kurds, on the other hand, are angry over the US' inaction in the face of ISIL advances in 2014 and their loss of Kirkuk in 2017. Most Iraqi's however, view Iran as a consistent force. They may not support system" rel="">support all of Tehran's policies, but they all trust its consistency. It took Tehran decades to build this trust, just as it took the US decades to lose it.

This trust played a significant role in the lead up to the election of a new prime minister. Despite their "nationalist" tendencies, both the Saairun (Marching) and Hikma (Wisdom) movements refused to support system" rel="">support Abadi's decision to implement the new US sanctions on Iran. After months of intense negotiations, Saairun agreed to support system" rel="">support Abdul Mahdi's candidacy alongside the Fatah coalition - knowing that Abdul Mahdi was Iran's favoured candidate. On Iraq's Sunni scene, despite US and Saudi efforts, many Sunni parties and figures chose to go against their post-2003 tradition and eventually also sided with the Iran-backed coalition. As a result, Mohammed al-Halbousi the favoured candidate of the Iran-backed coalition, was elected as speaker.

President Salih's election was also very much linked to Iranian support system" rel="">support, with reports that McGurk tried to talk him out of candidacy. Turning the presidency into a national issue, on the other hand, was a strategic gain for Iran against the secessionist KRG.

In short, Iran managed to secure a supportive prime minister, a friendly president and, for the first time, helped elect a very supportive speaker of parliament. Above all, it managed to showcase that it remains a trusted ally for Iraq, even as the country carves its way into more diverse and less sectarian politics. Recent developments demonstrated that a cross-sectarian Iraq is not going to be an anti-Iran one. Therefore, Washington's plan to minimise Iran's influence in Iraq by "forming a strong Iraqi government on national basis" and a cross-sectarian coalition did not work. In other words, the "break down" of Iraq's "sectarian loyalties" is not happening at the expense of Iranian influence. This is a huge achievement for Tehran and and a bigg loss for Washington.

https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/iran-won-face-iraq-181018101229959.html

So sez the reporter from Iran..... 🙄

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With few buyers, Iranian oil armada heads to China ahead of US sanctions

REUTERS|
Updated: Oct 18, 2018, 10.17 PM IST


 

An unprecedented volume of Iranian crude oil is set to arrive at China's northeast Dalian port this month and in early November before U.S. sanctions on Iran take effect, according to an Iranian shipping source and data on Refinitiv Eikon. 

A source from the National Iranian Tanker Company said the company is shipping more than 20 million barrels of oil to Dalian. 

"As our leaders have said it will be impossible to stop Iran from selling its oil. We have various ways of selling oil. We have various ways of selling our oil and when the tankers reach Dalian, we will decide whether to sell it to other buyers or to China," the source said, without elaborating further. So far, a total of 22 million barrels of Iranian crude oil loaded on supertankers owned by the National Iranian Tanker Co (NITC) are expected to arrive at Dalian in October and November, the data showed. Dalian typically receives between 1 million and 3 million barrels of Iranian oil each month, according to the data that dates back to January 2015. 

Iran, the third-largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, is finding fewer takers for its crude ahead of US. sanctions on its oil exports that will take effect on Nov. 4.  The Islamic country previously stored oil at Dalian during the last round of sanctions in 2014 that was later sold to buyers in South Korea and India. Some of the biggest refineries and commercial oil storage facilities in China are located in Dalian. 

One of 11 Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) - Dune - discharged oil into a bonded storage tank at the Xingang section of the Dalian port on Oct. 8, Reuters reported last week, while a second VLCC Dino I switched off its transponder on Oct. 13 near the port. 

Dino I reappeared earlier this week near Taiwan and has discharged its cargo onboard. 

The Xingang area is home to several tank farms including commercial and strategic reserves. China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) and Dalian Port PDA Co Ltd both operate commercial storage in the area, according to information on the companies' websites. 

CNPC is not expecting any Iranian oil to arrive at Dalian, a source familiar with the matter said, adding that buyers are unlikely to lift Iranian oil from bonded tanks in Dalian due to the U.S. sanctions. 

Keeping oil in bonded storage gives the cargo's owner the option of selling the oil into China or to other buyers in the region. 

NITC tankers have now switched off their tracking devices when loading or discharging oil to evade U.S. authorities as the United States will re-impose sanctions on Iran in early November, according to Refinitiv Eikon shipping data. 

Three of the tankers, set to arrive in China in November, are heading to Changxing Island, the data showed. 

Reuters contacted NITC for comment but officials were not immediately available as it is a weekend in Iran. An official with the media department at the Dalian port could not immediately comment. 

Below are the VLCCs carrying Iranian crude, heading to China's Dalian port: 

VLCC Loading Discharge 

date date 

Dune Sept. 12 Oct. 6 

Dino I Sept. 10 Oct. 9 

Sea Cliff Sept. 9 Oct. 18 

Dore Sept. 20 Oct. 19 

Happiness I Sept. 1 Oct. 19 

Halti Sept. 6 Oct. 25 

Serena Oct. 6 Oct. 29 

Hero II Oct. 8 Nov. 1 

Derya Oct. 10 Nov. 2 

Devon Oct. 9 Nov. 4 

Deep Sea Oct. 15 Nov. 9 

Source: Refini .. 

 

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Reports: China is directing government energy companies to stop oil imports from Iran

Reports: China is directing government energy companies to stop oil imports from Iran
 
 

26 October 2018 12:56 PM
Direct : Press reports revealed that China has sent at least so far two companies owned by the government to stop oil imports from Iran, in anticipation of the US sanctions against Tehran soon.

The United States is set to begin sanctions on oil companies importing crude from Iran on Nov. 4.

A person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg on Friday that the suspension of imports by China National Petroleum and Sinbuk was temporary and that procurement was likely to resume based on the outcome of the negotiations between the Tehran and Washington governments.

US sanctions against Iran are expected to reduce Tehran's crude supply and thus increase prices.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) warned last week of a fall in oil prices due to the accumulation of stocks, saying that the rise in oil stocks and increase in production may lead to it.

While the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries announced yesterday that the compliance of the countries participating in the agreement to reduce oil production reached 111% last September.

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BAGHDAD Reuters)
- US President Donald Trump has signed a law to impose sanctions on supporters of the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, the White House said Friday 

The law signed by President Trump today further isolates Hezbollah from the international financial system and limits its funding, the White House said . "These sanctions will be directed at foreign individuals and government entities that promote or support Hezbollah and its affiliated networks, In the drug trade and other cross-border crimes. "

 

 


He added that the sanctions in particular, provide for the freezing of assets, and the abolition of visas to the United States. 

The US Treasury has imposed on the fourth of this month sanctions on a person and seven Lebanese companies on charges of financing "Hezbollah".

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On 10/24/2018 at 8:00 PM, Butifldrm said:

How Iran won a face-off with the US in Iraq

Despite Washington's best efforts, it appears Iran will likely remain a trusted ally in post-sectarian Iraq.

Hassan Ahmadianby Hassan Ahmadian
6 hours ago
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Barham Salih, Iraq's newly elected president, walks with Iraq's new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi at the parliament headquarters, in Baghdad, Iraq October 2, 2018 [Khalid al Mousily/Reuters]
Barham Salih, Iraq's newly elected president, walks with Iraq's new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi at the parliament headquarters, in Baghdad, Iraq October 2, 2018 [Khalid al Mousily/Reuters]

Following Iraq's "inconclusive" national election on May 12, the United States tried hard to guarantee a second term for former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Washington's special envoy Brett McGurk spent months talking Iraqi politicians into following the American blueprint aimed at isolating Tehran and "keeping anyone friendly to Iran out of power." But it was all in vain. The US failed to place its desired candidates in the important positions ofprime ministerpresident and speaker of the parliament. Instead, Iran's Iraqi allies got their way. All three positions were filled with new faces who would not allow Iraq to turn its back to Iran.

Iran needed to make sure that Iraq's new government would not tilt towards Washington, and support system" rel="">support the renewed US sanctions - the way Abadi did. Abadi had adopted the new set of US sanctions against Iran in August, in an attempt to countervail the electoral setback he faced in May and ensure a second term. And in doing so, he broke the Tehran-Washington compromise that brought him to power in 2014. Ironically, his anti-Iran posture received the strongest pushback from Iraq's political elite, and not Iran. He failed to control even MPs of his own coalition, andfinally McGurk had to let him go. The Basra upheaval was the last nail in his premiership's coffin.

Importantly, a less US-inclined independent politician Adel Abdul Mahdi replaced Abadi. In a clear message to Iran, Abdul Mahdi opposed his predecessor's abidance by renewed US sanctions with an article in a Persian outletwhich he had been publishing in for years. Additionally, he was designated as PM by Barham Salih, the new Iraqi president whose election beyond Kurdish consensus was seen in Tehran as another blow to the special envoy McGurk and in extension to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)'sMasoud Barzani. The latter's nomination of Fouad Hussain was widely perceived as an effort to belittle Iraqi national politics.

How we got here

The May 12 election came amid political and social turmoil in Iraq, caused by the defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS), the Kurdish referendum and the re-taking of Kirkuk by Baghdad. Moreover, it was the first election after Baghdad's re-establishment of political ties with Riyadh - an actor keen to push back against Iran's elevated position in post-ISIL Iraq. Moreover, US was following a policy of maximum pressure on Iran, which had direct consequences for Iraq. Barzani was ready to jump on Washington's bandwagon because of his ire with Tehran's support system" rel="">support for the re-taking of Kirkuk

Against this backdrop, the Islah (Reform) coalition including Muqtada al-Sadr, Haider al-Abadi, Ammar Hakim and Iyad Allawi was announced in Baghdad's Babel Hotel on August 19. The alliance, with the support system" rel="">support of Washington, had hoped to attract minor parties and secure majority in the Parliament. Three unexpected developments, however, made such an outcome impossible. First, the Fatah - State of Law Bina (Construction) coalition, led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, announced its formation and declared that it holds the majority in the parliament. Second, smaller Sunni parties such as National Movement for Development and Reform refused to join the US-backed Islah coalition. And third, Abadi failed to control his own Nasr coalition, especially after the Basra upheaval in southern Iraq. Following these three developments, McGurk was forced to abandon his dream of keeping Abadi in office.

The race for the presidency was another story. Traditionally, the post is determined through a consensus within the Kurdistan Regional Government, however, the inability of the Kurds to unite behind a candidate moved their rivalry into Iraq's national politics - where Salih was elected decisively. Salih's election sets a new precedent in which the process of electing presidents is no longer a solely Kurdish matter, but rather a national one. Two hours into his presidency, Salih named Abdul Mahdi as the new prime minister.

Why did Iran win

Iran's recent victory against the US and Saudi Arabia in the Iraqi political landscape is first and foremost a result of the trust it has built in the country over decades. The US is not a trusted actor in Iraq due to its inconsistent policies. While the Shia believe Americans allowed Saddam's regime to crush them in 1991 and did nothing to stop ISIL's advances in 2014, the Sunnis consider the 2003 occupation as an "American betrayal". The Kurds, on the other hand, are angry over the US' inaction in the face of ISIL advances in 2014 and their loss of Kirkuk in 2017. Most Iraqi's however, view Iran as a consistent force. They may not support system" rel="">support all of Tehran's policies, but they all trust its consistency. It took Tehran decades to build this trust, just as it took the US decades to lose it.

This trust played a significant role in the lead up to the election of a new prime minister. Despite their "nationalist" tendencies, both the Saairun (Marching) and Hikma (Wisdom) movements refused to support system" rel="">support Abadi's decision to implement the new US sanctions on Iran. After months of intense negotiations, Saairun agreed to support system" rel="">support Abdul Mahdi's candidacy alongside the Fatah coalition - knowing that Abdul Mahdi was Iran's favoured candidate. On Iraq's Sunni scene, despite US and Saudi efforts, many Sunni parties and figures chose to go against their post-2003 tradition and eventually also sided with the Iran-backed coalition. As a result, Mohammed al-Halbousi the favoured candidate of the Iran-backed coalition, was elected as speaker.

President Salih's election was also very much linked to Iranian support system" rel="">support, with reports that McGurk tried to talk him out of candidacy. Turning the presidency into a national issue, on the other hand, was a strategic gain for Iran against the secessionist KRG.

In short, Iran managed to secure a supportive prime minister, a friendly president and, for the first time, helped elect a very supportive speaker of parliament. Above all, it managed to showcase that it remains a trusted ally for Iraq, even as the country carves its way into more diverse and less sectarian politics. Recent developments demonstrated that a cross-sectarian Iraq is not going to be an anti-Iran one. Therefore, Washington's plan to minimise Iran's influence in Iraq by "forming a strong Iraqi government on national basis" and a cross-sectarian coalition did not work. In other words, the "break down" of Iraq's "sectarian loyalties" is not happening at the expense of Iranian influence. This is a huge achievement for Tehran and and a bigg loss for Washington.

https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/iran-won-face-iraq-181018101229959.html

Fantastic article.

 

Real truth here, not hopium.

 

Solemani, Hezbollah, and other factions got together with Sadr when push came to shove as has been reported before when nominating the Big Three. 

 

One can hope that they have the people's best interest, but Iraq's elite will always carry a ton of stroke. Anyone not seeing that is blind to the bigger picture in Iraq if you follow the news, not just react to it.

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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-oil/iraq-to-halt-kirkuk-oil-exports-to-iran-may-resume-them-to-turkey-idUSKCN1N020R?rpc=401&

 

OCTOBER 26, 2018 / 3:43 PM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

Iraq to halt Kirkuk oil exports to Iran, may resume them to Turkey

 

2 MIN READ

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BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq will stop trucking crude from its northern Kirkuk oilfield to Iran in November to comply with sanctions imposed on its neighbour by the United States, two sources familiar with Iraqi oil export operations said on Friday.

Currently, Iraq is exporting less than 30,000 barrels per day (bpd) to Iran via truck, the sources told Reuters.

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“Kirkuk oil trucking to Iran will be halted in November in line with the American sanctions against Iran. (State oil marketer) SOMO plans to sell 30,000 bpd from a small oilfield near Mosul as of November as an alternative. SOMO issued the tender on Thursday,” one source said.

Former prime minister Haider al-Abadi’s outgoing federal government agreed a deal in mid-October with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to resume exporting crude to Turkey’s Ceyhan port via the KRG, the sources also said.

 

The deal is subject to final approval by newly appointed Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and Oil Minister Thamer Ghadhban, they added.

“Kurdish authorities reached a deal with Abadi’s government to resume Kirkuk exports and it was decided that the final say should be left to the new government and oil minister to sign a final deal,” one source said.

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122524.jpg?width=750&&height=375

 
2018/10/26 17:33
  • Number of readings 126
  • Section: Iraq
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Iraq suspends the transfer of crude oil to Iran

 

 

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq will stop transporting crude from the Kirkuk oil field to Iran in November to comply with US sanctions on its neighbor, two sources familiar with Iraqi oil exports said on Friday .

The sources confirmed that Iraq currently exports less than 30 thousand barrels per day of Kirkuk crude to Iran by truck.

They said the former Iraqi federal government reached an agreement in mid-October with the Kurdistan Regional Government to resume the export of crude to the Turkish port of Ceyhan across the Kurdish region.

They said the deal was subject to final approval from the newly appointed Iraqi prime minister and oil minister .

Follow the obelisk - agencies

http://almasalah.com/ar/news/154199/العراق-يوقف-نقل-النفط-الخام-إلى-إيران

 

 
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Trump signs new Hezbollah sanctions bill in anti-Iran push

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Trump hosts White House reception commemorating the 35th anniversary of the attack on the Beirut Barracks. (Reuters)
The Associated Press, Washington Friday, 26 October 2018
 

US President Donald Trump has signed legislation imposing new sanctions against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terrorist group behind the 1983 Beirut barracks bombings.

Speaking Thursday at a White House event marking the 35th anniversary of the attack that killed 241 Marines, Trump said, “No terrorist group other than al-Qaida has more American blood on its hands.”

Trump is also taking credit for reimposing sanctions on Iran after he pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear accord, in part by citing its support for international terrorist groups. Trump is promising even tougher actions against Iran after most sanctions against the country return to effect on Nov. 5.

The bill expands the list of those who can be sanctioned for doing business with Hezbollah.

Last Update: Friday, 26 October 2018 KSA 07:58 - GMT 04:58
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Iran small boats shadow US ship carrying top US commander

6fe73630-9e92-4070-91a4-a735b3dea6d8_16x
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps routinely buzz around US ships in the region, taking photos and collecting information. (File photo: AP)
AP, Aboard the USS EssexFriday, 26 October 2018
 

The top US commander in the Middle East got an Iranian welcome as he arrived on the USS Essex in the Gulf.

Soon after Gen. Joseph Votel boarded the amphibious assault ship Friday morning one Iranian fast boat raced across in front of the Essex, while another shadowed it from the side.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps routinely buzz around US ships in the region, taking photos and collecting information. The boats came within about 300 yards of the Essex, and their radio chatter questioned what a US aircraft from the ship was doing.

A stealthy F-35 fighter jet had made a pass around the Essex, then hovered in the air above the deck before making a vertical landing as part of a demonstration for Votel.

Last Update: Friday, 26 October 2018 KSA 18:00 - GMT 15:00
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PM Mahdi: Iraq will prioritize own interests regarding Iran sanctions

40442c51-53a0-4e56-9177-15e517414880_16x
Adel Abdul Mahdi addresses the parliament on October 24, 2018. (AFP)
Reuters, BaghdadFriday, 26 October 2018
 
 

Iraq will prioritize its own interests and independence when it comes to helping the United States enforce sanctions against Iran, new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said on Thursday.

President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from a 2015 international nuclear accord with Tehran in May and re-impose sanctions has put Abdul Mahdi’s incoming government in a difficult position, since Iraq’s economy is closely intertwined with neighboring Iran’s.

“We want to secure Iraq from any interference in issues, affairs of other countries, whether it’s a neighboring country or it’s any other country in the world,” Abdul Mahdi told a news conference in Baghdad.

 

The United States and Iran, increasingly at odds, are Iraq’s two biggest allies, and Washington has said there will be consequences for countries that do not respect the sanctions. Abdul Mahdi’s statement on Thursday did not deviate much from the stance of his predecessor, Haider al-Abadi.

In August Abadi said Iraq was against the sanctions “as a matter of principle”, but that the country would follow them.

 

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The Iraqi parliament votes on the new Iraqi government, headed by Adel Abdul Mahdi, October 24, 2018 in Baghdad. (AFP)

Interests of the people

“We consider them a strategic mistake and incorrect but we will abide by them to protect the interests of our people. We will not interact with them or support them but we will abide by them,” he said.

Abadi’s government later asked Washington for permission to ignore some sanctions on its neighbor. Abdul Mahdi did not say on Thursday whether his government would continue to seek the exemptions. The next wave of sanctions are due to come into effect on Nov 4.

 

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Abdul Mahdi on Thursday to congratulate him on his swearing in. They also discussed the enhancement of bilateral relations, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s media office.

Abdul Mahdi was speaking at his first news conference since being sworn in just past midnight on Thursday. He also announced that he would be moving the prime minister’s office and cabinet outside Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone.

“All of Iraq should be a green zone. Security and beauty should be everywhere in Iraq. Officials must share everything with citizens, the good and the bad. We should share everything with our people.”

Last Update: Friday, 26 October 2018 KSA 01:42 - GMT 22:42
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Report: Iraq stops the export of crude to Iran because of US sanctions

Report: Iraq stops the export of crude to Iran because of US sanctions
Brent crude futures rose 0.5% to $ 77.28 a barrel
 26 October 2018 07:56 PM

Mubasher: A recent report said that the State of Iraq will stop the export of crude oil from Kirkuk to Iran during the month of November, in compliance with US sanctions on Tehran .

Two sources familiar with the agency told Reuters on Friday that Iraq will stop the export of crude from Kirkuk to Iran in November, coinciding with the beginning of US economic sanctions on the regime in Tehran .

The sources said that Iraq currently exports about 30 thousand barrels per day of Kirkuk crude to Iran by truck .

In May, US President Donald Trump announced his country's withdrawal from Iran's nuclear deal, with some economic sanctions related to oil supplies being applied to the Tehran regime from November .

As for oil prices in global markets, by 4:40 pm GMT, the price of Brent crude futures rose 0.5% to $ 77.28 a barrel. The price of Nymex crude for December delivery rose 0.2% to $ 67.46 a barrel .

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