Trump says US ‘moving forward’ with additional sanctions on Iran

[Pitcher]

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/42977/Saudi-Arabia-urges-int-l-community-to-deter-Iran
 

Saudi Arabia urges int’l community to deter Iran

Saudi State Minister for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir on Sunday urged the international community to deter Iran in wake of its repeated violations.

“Any violation of international marine navigation is a violation of international law,” he said in a tweet.

He added that Tehran is aware that its actions and behavior, including the interception of civilian vessels and the seizure of a British tanker in the Arabian Gulf, violate international law.

Jubeir held separate talks in Riyadh with US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia John Abizaid and Russian Ambassador Seregi Kozlov.

Discussions focused on bilateral relations and cooperation, as well as the latest regional and international developments.

[Pitcher]

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/42971/Why-should-the-world-unite-to-confront-Iran
 

Why should the world unite to confront Iran?

Over the past two months, Iran has served as proof that diplomacy and soft canals to resolve the crisis in Middle East are useless, harassing all world powers that have been fighting to save the nuclear deal Tehran inked with them in 2015.

US President Donald Trump has been calling for a tough reaction against Iran in order to stop its violent acts and interference in other countries, from Iraq to Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. Now Iran is threatening navigation in the Arabian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, making it impossible to negotiate anymore.

The UK was one of the major powers that has been calling for protecting the nuclear deal and bringing theUS back to the negotiation table; however, Tehran has paid back the favor by abducting two vessels carrying the British flag.

The power of Iran has increased, especially after raising the limit of its uranium enrichment to 5%, which exceeds the limit agreed upon in the nuclear deal, increasing the risk of a terrorist regime having a nuclear weapon in a very troubled region.

Iran respects nothing but the language of force, and if the world does not unify, this evil regime will expand and become an undefeated beast that will threaten not only its neighbors, but every country in the world, spreading terrorism, chaos and destruction worldwide.

[Karsten]

Iran is thinking obama and kerry will somehow get them out of this mess that hey started. The Iranian people have had it with the Mullah's, They  want their country back and be done with this maniacal regime. They rose up and obama and kerry turned their backs on the People to support the Nuclear  Agreement.

 

If you want Iran gone as a threat you need to get rid of of the Mullahs and the IRG and get a real government back to running the show.

 

To get it done you run guns to select groups.....CIA knows who they are. Select Specific strikes to cripple the Mullah's as well as the IRG and let the people take thier country back with limited support from the US, Nato or other Allies.

 

Karsten

[Pitcher]

10 minutes ago, Karsten said:

They rose up and obama and kerry turned their backs on the People to support system" rel="">support the Nuclear  Agreement.

 

Yes they did Karsten just like they turned their backs on the Christians in Iraq and Egypt.  Pathetic 

[Karsten]

I ran across this earlier today.......

 

https://ian56.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-terrorist-threat-has-been.html?fbclid=IwAR1_KA96-rY7PRJlVeEkL58FW6qck7r2W2pwouCEurD0gp1GUEtcACcPSho

 

Karsten

[ChuckFinley]

Yet, Americans and people around the world think that he was the best President ever. Pretty sad state of affairs.  

[Pitcher]

That makes my blood boil Karsten. 

Chuck, it’s easy to be loved by the world when people give you awards and the Media constantly pumping him up.  Yes, very sad state of affairs.  

[ChuckFinley]

1 minute ago, Pitcher said:

That makes my blood boil Karsten. 

Chuck, it’s easy to be loved by the world when people give you awards and the Media constantly pumping him up.  Yes, very sad state of affairs.  

It is, is in it.  

[climber7]

54 minutes ago, Pitcher said:

 Maybe they are expecting help from Russia or China.  

 

Thats what I’ve been saying all along

 

Russia’s like their big brother on the playground 

[Donziman]

Well it feels good to rattle swords but this puts our investment back about 5 more years.

[10 YEARS LATER]

15 minutes ago, Donziman said:

Well it feels good to rattle swords but this puts our investment back about 5 more years.

 

 . . . I believe you're correct and this has been Iran's aim all along.

 

10YL+6&

[Pitcher]

Tend to agree with both of you guys but I don’t think it will be 5 years

[10 YEARS LATER]

1 hour ago, Pitcher said:

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/42971/Why-should-the-world-unite-to-confront-Iran
 

Why should the world unite to confront Iran?

Over the past two months, Iran has served as proof that diplomacy and soft canals to resolve the crisis in Middle East are useless, harassing all world powers that have been fighting to save the nuclear deal Tehran inked with them in 2015.

US President Donald Trump has been calling for a tough reaction against Iran in order to stop its violent acts and interference in other countries, from Iraq to Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. Now Iran is threatening navigation in the Arabian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, making it impossible to negotiate anymore.

The UK was one of the major powers that has been calling for protecting the nuclear deal and bringing theUS back to the negotiation table; however, Tehran has paid back the favor by abducting two vessels carrying the British flag.

The power of Iran has increased, especially after raising the limit of its uranium enrichment to 5%, which exceeds the limit agreed upon in the nuclear deal, increasing the risk of a terrorist regime having a nuclear weapon in a very troubled region.

Iran respects nothing but the language of force, and if the world does not unify, this evil regime will expand and become an undefeated beast that will threaten not only its neighbors, but every country in the world, spreading terrorism, chaos and destruction worldwide.

 

" Why should the world unite to confront Iran?"  - Astonishing isn't it ! 

 

WHY  should this EVEN be a question KNOWING what EVERYONE KNOWS about IRAN. Way too many corrupt  linguine spined bureaucrats from many nations ( including the USA ) more interested in $$$$$ & Power. Only a Full Blown Idiot

( apparently we have no shortage of these ) wouldn't recognize what Iran has been for a very long time.

 

Iran should have been SHUT DOWN decades ago.

 

To allow Iran to EVEN get to this point in time is reprehensible and downright despicable. Thanks to the ( corrupt) UN, the EU and the Obama Administration for bringing yet more potential murder, mayhem, chaos, destruction & instability to the M.E.

 

No doubt NONE of these participating parties will EVER be brought to task over this if this whether it comes to yet another War. . . or by some miracle this highly voilitle situation becomes diffused, and Iran is returned to the people ( not likely huh ).

 

10YL+6&

 

 

[yota691]

 

[yota691]

 

[yota691]

Iran is squirrelling millions of barrels of crude oil in Chinese ports to avoid breaching US sanctions

 

Theron Mohamed

 Jul. 22, 2019, 10:18 AM

 

• Iran is squirreling away millions of barrels of oil in storage tanks at Chinese ports, avoiding a breach of US sanctions while providing its biggest buyer with a ready supply of crude.
• The oil has been placed in "bonded storage," Bloomberg said, meaning it hasn't cleared customs so isn't subject to sanctions.
• China received about 12 million barrels of Iranian oil from January through May, but only 10 million barrels cleared customs.
•  

  ---

Iran is squirreling away millions of barrels of oil in storage tanks at Chinese ports, avoiding a breach of US sanctions while providing its biggest buyer with a ready supply of crude to tap if supply is disrupted or sanctions are lifted.

The Trump administration strengthened sanctions on purchases of Iranian oil in May when it ended exemptions for China, Japan, and other countries. The restrictions are intended to wipe out the Middle-Eastern nation's oil exports and force it to strike a deal that limits its nuclear activities and military actions.

However, Iran has continued to ship large amounts of crude oil to China, where they're placed in "bonded storage," according to people familiar with Chinese ports who were interviewed by Bloomberg. The fuel doesn't pass through Chinese customs, meaning it's not reflected in national import data and therefore avoids sanctions.

 

 

 

China received about 12 million barrels of Iranian crude from January through May, significantly more than the 10 million barrels that cleared customs during that period, according to Bloomberg.

The secretive flow shows no sign of slowing. A dozen oil carriers and tankers owned by the state-run National Iranian Oil Company — with a combined capacity of more than 20 million barrels of oil — are traveling towards China or waiting off its coast, according to Bloomberg's ship-tracking data. Most of the oil already in the storage tanks is owned by Iran, but some of it represents payment to Chinese entities that have invested in Iran, Bloomberg said.

Both Iran and China benefit from the arrangement. Iran has a safe place to keep its crude, sparing it from having to use its tankers as floating storage and freeing them up for other shipments. Meanwhile, Chinese refiners have a stockpile they can quickly tap if global supply is disrupted or sanctions end.

[Butifldrm]

 

British Foreign Secretary: We will seek to form a European protection force in the Gulf

By Rudao 5 hours ago

British warship "HMS Duncan" - archival

Roudao - Erbil 

announced the British Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, on Monday evening that his country would seek to form a force to protect European naval in the Gulf after Iran seized a British oil tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz, stressing at the same time that London is not seeking a confrontation with Iran. 

"We will now seek to set up a European maritime protection mission to ensure the safe passage of crews and cargoes in this vital region," Hunt told British lawmakers. 

He added: "We will seek to form this force as soon as possible and will not be part of the policy of American pressure on Iran," and described Friday's incident as "the work of piracy of a state." 

A British warship in the region, HMS Montrose, tried to warn Iranian forces about the ship and rushed to the scene, but it arrived late and was unable to help.

Hunt said the other British warship HMS Duncan, which will be sent to the region, will arrive on July 29. 

He confirmed that all British flag vessels will be required to give British authorities a notice of their planned passage in the Strait of Hormuz "to enable us to provide the best protection possible." 

"Of course, it is not possible for the Royal Navy to accompany every ship or eliminate all the dangers of piracy," he said.

https://www.rudaw.net/arabic/middleeast/23072019

[Butifldrm]

8 hours ago, yota691 said:

Iran is squirrelling millions of barrels of crude oil in Chinese ports to avoid breaching US sanctions

 

Theron Mohamed

 Jul. 22, 2019, 10:18 AM

 

• Iran is squirreling away millions of barrels of oil in storage tanks at Chinese ports, avoiding a breach of US sanctions while providing its biggest buyer with a ready supply of crude.
• The oil has been placed in "bonded storage," Bloomberg said, meaning it hasn't cleared customs so isn't subject to sanctions.
• China received about 12 million barrels of Iranian oil from January through May, but only 10 million barrels cleared customs.
•  

  ---

Iran is squirreling away millions of barrels of oil in storage tanks at Chinese ports, avoiding a breach of US sanctions while providing its biggest buyer with a ready supply of crude to tap if supply is disrupted or sanctions are lifted.

The Trump administration strengthened sanctions on purchases of Iranian oil in May when it ended exemptions for China, Japan, and other countries. The restrictions are intended to wipe out the Middle-Eastern nation's oil exports and force it to strike a deal that limits its nuclear activities and military actions.

However, Iran has continued to ship large amounts of crude oil to China, where they're placed in "bonded storage," according to people familiar with Chinese ports who were interviewed by Bloomberg. The fuel doesn't pass through Chinese customs, meaning it's not reflected in national import data and therefore avoids sanctions.

 

 

 

China received about 12 million barrels of Iranian crude from January through May, significantly more than the 10 million barrels that cleared customs during that period, according to Bloomberg.

The secretive flow shows no sign of slowing. A dozen oil carriers and tankers owned by the state-run National Iranian Oil Company — with a combined capacity of more than 20 million barrels of oil — are traveling towards China or waiting off its coast, according to Bloomberg's ship-tracking data. Most of the oil already in the storage tanks is owned by Iran, but some of it represents payment to Chinese entities that have invested in Iran, Bloomberg said.

Both Iran and China benefit from the arrangement. Iran has a safe place to keep its crude, sparing it from having to use its tankers as floating storage and freeing them up for other shipments. Meanwhile, Chinese refiners have a stockpile they can quickly tap if global supply is disrupted or sanctions end.

 

US sanctions Chinese oil trader for violating Iran restrictions: Pompeo

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the US is placing Chinese entity Zhuhai Zhenrong and its chief executive Youmin Li on its sanctions blacklist. (File/AP)

Updated 22 July 2019

 

WASHINGTON: The United States is placing a leading Chinese oil importer on its sanctions blacklist for trading in Iranian crude, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Monday.
“As part of that maximum pressure campaign, I am announcing that the United States is imposing sanctions on the Chinese entity Zhuhai Zhenrong and its chief executive Youmin Li,” Pompeo said in a speech.
“They violated US law by accepting crude oil,” he said.
The announcement was the latest step by Washington to ratchet up economic pressure on Tehran over its alleged military activities in the Middle East and its nuclear program by taking aim at business partners.
“We’ve said all along that any sanction will indeed be enforced. We can’t tolerate more money going to ayatollahs, putting American soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, putting their lives at risk. It’s too important.”
Zhuhai Zhenrong along with Chinese state refiner Sinopec are responsible for nearly all the Iranian crude that China imports.
Bloomberg reported that China took in about 12 million tons of Iranian crude in the first five months of this year.
It said that some of that crude is being held in “bonded storage” and not passing through Chinese customs, possibly to avoid the application of sanctions.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1529326/world

[yota691]

China opposes US sanctions on Chinese company over Iran oil

 

Gas is burning on an oil production platform in Sorush oil fields next to the Iranian flag. "Reuters"

Arab and international Economy News  BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing strongly opposes US sanctions on a Chinese energy company accused of violating restrictions on Iran's oil sector imposed on Tehran's nuclear program, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States had imposed sanctions on China's energy company Zhuhai Zhenrong for "knowingly engaged in large dealings to buy or obtain crude oil from Iran." Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Beijing strongly opposes the sanctions, adding that China's cooperation with Iran is sound under international law. "We urge the United States to rectify this wrong behavior and end its illegal sanctions on companies and individuals," she told reporters in a daily press briefing. "The United States ignores the legitimate rights of all countries and applies sanctions indiscriminately, a violation of international law," Hua said. Views 18   Date Added 07/23/2019

[Butifldrm]

 

China Tells US to ‘Stop Its Random and Illegal Sanctions’ Amid Iranian Oil Trade Row

 

14:39 23.07.2019(updated 14:50 23.07.2019)Get short URL

3150

Earlier, after the publication of a Bloomberg story accusing China of bypassing US sanctions on Iranian oil imports by putting imports in bonded storage, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the US would slap sanctions against a Chinese oil trading firm and its CEO.

Beijing strongly condemns the new US sanctions against one of its energy companies and considers them a violation of international law, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has announced.

“We urge the US to correct this wrongdoing and stop its illegal sanctions on companies and individuals,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Tuesday.

“The US has neglected the legitimate rights of all countries and randomly applies sanctions; this is a violation of international law,” Hua added.

Reiterating China’s “consistent” and “resolute” opposition to the US’s “unilateral sanctions” on Iran, the spokeswoman noted that “the Chinese side has repeatedly stressed that energy cooperation between Iran and the international community falls within the framework of international law and is reasonable and legitimate, and must be respected and protected.”

Hua also promised that China would “take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its enterprises and individuals.” She did not specify what these measures might be.

On Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Washington would be imposing sanctions on Chinese oil trader Zhuhai Zhengrong Ltd and its chief executive officer Youmin Li for the company’s alleged violation of US restrictions on Iranian crude oil imports. Pompeo said the sanctions would be applied as part of the US’s “maximum pressure campaign,” which seeks to bring Iranian oil exports down “to zero” in a bid to cripple the country’s economy.

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that China, which has continued to accept Iranian oil-laden tankers at its ports despite the US restrictions, was hoarding oil at terminals but not clearing it through customs, thereby allowing it to formally avoid violating US sanctions. According to Bloomberg, at least a dozen tankers with a combined carrying capacity of over 20 million barrels of Iranian crude oil were either en route to China, or idling off the country’s coast.

China is the only major traditional importer of Iranian oil not to bow to US sanctions pressure after Washington scrapped sanctions waivers on imports given to Beijing and half a dozen other countries. Before US sanctions snapped into place, China depended on Iranian supplies for about 20 percent of its total oil imports.

Earlier this month, US officials told the media that the State Department was considering making an exception for China in its energy sanctions strategy, because there wasn’t much Washington could do “if China says, ‘Screw you’.”

US energy sanctions against Iran were part of a package of measures applied by Washington against Tehran following the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018. The deal’s other signatories have tried to save it by offering Iran ways to bypass the US restrictions and continue trading with the world, but Tehran has accused these countries of not doing enough to help ease the US pressure. In May 2019, Iran announced that it would begin gradually reducing its commitments to the nuclear deal until a solution was found.

https://sputniknews.com/world/201907231076332680-china-tells-us-to-stop-its-random-and-illegal-sanctions-amid-iranian-oil-trade-row/

[Butifldrm]

Iran to attend meeting in Vienna in European attempt to salvage nuclear deal

 

i24NEWS - AFP

July 23, 2019, 02:53 AM - latest revision July 23, 2019, 07:25 AM

 

ALEX HALADA (AFP)

FILE - Hassan Rouhani was one of the main Iranian architects of the Vienna accord, making it the cornerstone of his policy of opening to the West.

'Iran is trying to get a sense of where the red lines for the Trump administration are,' says US expert

Iran said it will attend a meeting in Vienna on Sunday of diplomats from countries still in favor of the 2015 nuclear deal, as they try to salvage the agreement.

The deal has been in steady collapse since the United States withdrew from it last year and reimposed biting sanctions against Iran as part of a "maximum pressure" campaign.

"It was agreed to convene an extraordinary meeting of the JCPOA joint commission in Vienna on July 28," Iran's foreign ministry said on Tuesday, using the acronym for the deal's formal name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

It was requested by the European parties to discuss the "new situation," the statement added, referring to Iran's reduced nuclear commitments under the deal in response to the US withdrawal.

US President Donald Trump said Monday on Iran that the choice between war and diplomacy "could go either way."

"The Trump administration is facing a fork in the road with respect to its own policy," said Suzanne Maloney, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

The US has "deployed an enormous amount of pressure on Iran" and is "well prepared to keep that in place for as long as they deem it necessary," as long as Washington "can avoid escalation and an eruption of a military conflict," Maloney told AFP

"I'm okay either way it goes," said the president on the question which policy he prefers, negotiation or conflict.

Iran has publicly refused to take part in any talks held under pressure and meanwhile, tensions have mounted with drones shot down, oil tankers mysteriously attacked and ships seized by both Tehran and US ally Britain.

According to Maloney, Iran is "trying to get a sense of where the red lines for the administration are."

https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/1563868421-iran-to-attend-meeting-in-vienna-in-european-attempt-to-salvage-nuclear-deal

[Hotcurl]

3 hours ago, Butifldrm said:

According to Maloney, Iran is "trying to get a sense of where the red lines for the administration are."

 

Keep the "Insanians" guessing on what is coming next .......... sounds like a basic / great part of the US strategy, IMHO ....................

 

Semper Fi

Show me 'da

 

 

Edited July 23, 2019 by Hotcurl
spelling error

[Synopsis]

The whole video is great.

 

For the update pertaining to the Insanians, to INCLUDE the Insanian IRGC, You may want to go to 8:40.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wZ8ElbE_1k

 

Go Moola Nova!

[yota691]

Iran reassures Iraq by ensuring free shipping in the Strait of Hormuz

 

Emaar Construction Economy News - Baghdad Oil Minister Thamir al-Ghadhban revealed on Tuesday Iranian assurances regarding the guarantee of free shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, pointing out that all parties confirm the lack of escalation and stalemate, which is reflected negatively on the region. The Ministry of Oil said in a statement, "Economy News" that "Deputy Prime Minister for Energy and Minister of Oil Thamer Ghadhban, announced the Iranian assurances provided by Iranian President Hassan Rowhani to the Iraqi delegation headed by Adel Abdul Mahdi on ensuring the free movement of safe navigation in the Arabian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz The Gulf of Oman and respect for international law guaranteeing the freedom of international navigation . " "We have seen a convergence of views on the need to ensure the free movement of oil tankers and commercial vessels in the waters of the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and respect for international law, which guarantees freedom of navigation for all countries in the world, especially the countries of the region," the ministry quoted Ghadhban as saying . Al-Ghadhban added that "all parties emphasize the lack of escalation and the stalemate of positions, which is reflected negatively on the region, and resort instead to solve the outstanding problems in the dialogue of constructive and constructive, and this is a step and a positive indicator," stressing "the role played by Iraq to bring the views closer And defuse the crisis in the region . " He stressed the importance of the Strait of Hormuz in the movement and traffic of oil tankers to countries of the region and the world, which are at daily rates to more than 18 million barrels per day , " adding that" Iraq exports through the Strait of Hormuz crude oil at rates between 3,400-3,500 Million barrels per day as well as the export of liquid gas and gas condensates. " Views 45   Date Added 07/23/2019

[yota691]