Iran declares its readiness to return to all its obligations under the nuclear agreement

[Butifldrm]

An explosion in an Iranian tanker near Jeddah and an oil spill in the Red Sea

 

Economy ofan Iranian tanker

 2019/10/11 00:38:59

 

An oil tanker belonging to the National Oil Tankers Company (NIOC) was attacked early Friday, 60 miles from the Saudi port of Jeddah.
According to the IRNA news agency, the two main reservoirs of the ship were damaged by the explosion, which led to the leakage of oil stored in the Red Sea.
She said that the technical experts on board the ship were investigating the causes of the explosion and expressed their expectation that the incident was the result of a terrorist act.

https://www.shafaaq.com/ar/اقتصـاد/انفجار-في-ناقلة-إيرانية-قرب-جدة-وتسرب-نفطي-في-مياه-البحر-الأحمر/

[Butifldrm]

Oil prices rise after an explosion on an Iranian tanker off Jeddah

 

EconomyIranian tankeroil prices

 2019/10/11 02:07:59

 

Oil prices rose during Friday's trading, affected by an explosion in an Iranian oil tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Jeddah.

Brent futures rose 2.01% to $ 60.29 a barrel by 09:00 Moscow time, according to Bloomberg data.

US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 1.83% to $ 54.53 a barrel.

The agency "Esna" reported an explosion in an Iranian tanker near the Saudi port of Jeddah today, resulting in a fire on board, while experts did not rule out that the explosion was caused by a terrorist act.

With the explosion of the tanker, Gulf tensions have reigned in the shadow of oil markets.

https://www.shafaaq.com/ar/اقتصـاد/ارتفاع-اسعار-النفط-إثر-انفجار-في-ناقلة-إيرانية-قبالة-جدة/

[yota691]

World Bank: Iran's foreign debt shrunk 6.5 percent

By AhadNA3 12/10/2019 02:52 PM | Number Of Hits: 57

World Bank data confirmed that Iran's foreign debt in 2018, fell 6.5 percent year on year, despite the US embargo.

The data showed that Iran's debts declined to 6 billion 323 million and 900 thousand dollars at the end of 2018, down from 6 billion 761 million and 100 thousand dollars recorded in 2017, a decrease of 437.2 million dollars.

Iran's foreign debt as of the end of 2018 included $ 381.8 billion in long-term debt, $ 3.958 billion and $ 800,000 short-term debt, as well as $ 1.983 billion and $ 400,000 international credit lines, it said. Finished 2

[yota691]

12-10-2019 03:30 PM

Saudi Arabia denies attacking the Iranian tanker

 

 

Baghdad / News

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia denied on Saturday any allegations it was involved in a missile attack that an Iranian oil tanker was hit in the Red Sea off the coast of the kingdom.

The spokesman of the General Directorate of the Saudi Border Guards said: “At (11:47) on Friday, 12/2/1441 H e-mail was received from the coast station in Jeddah, including receiving an e-mail from the captain of the tanker, carrying the Iranian flag, stating that The tanker's introduction to Fracture resulted in an oil spill at sea from the tanker's cargo and tanks.

He added: “When analyzing the information by the coordination center; in order to provide any necessary assistance, it turned out that the tanker continued to proceed, and that it is 67 nautical miles southwest of Jeddah Islamic Port, and that it has closed the automated tracking system, with no response to the communications of the center.” .

The spokesman explained that “at (15:50) was updated to the last position of the tanker, where it turned out that it was a distance of 79 nautical miles, southwest of the Islamic Port of Jeddah, and 64 nautical miles from the nearest point of the shore, sailing at a speed of 9.7 knots towards 152 Degree".

The Spokesman said that the Kingdom reaffirms its commitment to the safety and security of maritime navigation and its commitment to international agreements and norms.

[horsesoldier]

For thousands of years in the M.E., there's been just no getting along with their " neighbors ". . . nothing short of the " 2nd Coming " will sort this 'Sheet ' Storm out.

Even then they'll probably argue about it well into the " Near Future." : providing there is one.  

[Butifldrm]

US extends Iraq exemption to import energy from Iran for another four months

10:20 - 17/10/2019

0

 

 

 

  

Information / Translation…

The United States again exempted Iraq from sanctions against the Islamic Republic, allowing Iraq to continue imports of gas and electricity from Iran for another four months.

"The exception ensures that Iraq is able to meet its energy needs in the short term while taking steps to reduce its dependence on Iranian energy imports," the US State Department said in a statement .

"We are regularly engaged with the Iraqi government to support measures to improve Iraq 's energy independence ," he said.

The exemption would be the fifth such exemption the United States has issued to Iraq since sanctions were imposed on Iranian energy exports a year ago. After an initial exemption of 45 days, the State Department issued two exemptions for 90 days in a row, followed by a 120-day exemption last June.

Gas imports from Iran generate up to 45 percent of Iraq's 14,000 megawatts of electricity . Iran transfers another 1,000 megawatts directly, making it an indispensable source of energy for its Arab neighbor. Finished / 25 z

https://www.almaalomah.com/2019/10/17/432983/

[yota691]

Washington extends exemption of Iraq to import energy from Iran

 

 

 2019/10/17 09:32:58

 

The United States again exempted Iraq from the embargo on Iran, allowing Iraq to continue imports of gas and electricity for another four months.

"The exception ensures that Iraq is able to meet its energy needs in the short term while taking steps to reduce its dependence on Iranian energy imports," the State Department's official Web site said.

"We are regularly engaged with the Iraqi government to support measures to improve Iraq's energy independence," he said.

"This exception will be the fifth exemption of its kind issued by the United States to Iraq since sanctions were imposed on Iranian energy exports about a year ago. .

Gas imports from Iran generate up to 45 percent of Iraq's 14,000 megawatts of electricity consumed by Iran.

[yota691]

Deadline for Iran to fight money laundering ..

l 18 October 2019 - 16:20 Abu Dhabi time

 

 

Iran was given a deadline of February 2020 to comply

Agencies - Abu Dhabi

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global anti-money laundering watchdog, said on Friday it had given Iran a deadline of February 2020 to comply with international rules and would then urge all its members to implement countermeasures.

The Paris-based group said it was seeking a request from its members to examine transactions with Iran and conduct more stringent external audits of finance companies operating in the country. According to Reuters.

"If, before February 2020, Iran does not ratify the Palermo Convention and another to combat the financing of terrorism in line with FATF standards, " it said in a statement. , FATF will completely lift the suspension of countermeasures and call on its members and urge all jurisdictions to implement effective countermeasures With recommendation 19 ".

Foreign companies say Iran's compliance with the FATF rules is vital if Tehran wants to attract investors, especially after the United States reimposed sanctions on Iran last year.

France , Britain and Germany have linked Iran's commitment to removing it from the Fatef blacklist to a new channel of non-dollar trade with Iran aimed at avoiding US 

But Iran's leaders are divided over compliance with the FATF rules, and supporters say compliance could facilitate foreign trade with Europe and Asia as US sanctions target the country's economy to isolate it.

Hardline opponents say passing legislation to join the FATF could hamper Iran's support for its allies, including Lebanon's Hezbollah.

The chances of Iran's commitment within four months appear slim, and Tehran's action plan to meet the requirements of FATF, which was implemented in 2016, expired in January 2018.

"(FATF) is disappointed that the action plan remains on hold," she said. "FATF expects Iran to move forward at a rapid pace on the reform track to ensure that it addresses the remaining items by completing and implementing the necessary anti-money laundering and terrorist financing reforms."

[yota691]

FAFT extends deadline for Iran to tighten money laundering regulations

TEHRAN, Oct. 18 (MNA) – Global watchdog, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), extends suspension of anti-Iran measures until February 2020 to let the country tighten its rules against money laundering in compliance with the global watchdog’s financial standards.

“If before February 2020, Iran does not enact the Palermo and Terrorist Financing Conventions in line with the FATF Standards, then the FATF will fully lift the suspension of counter-measures and call on its members and urge all jurisdictions to apply effective counter-measures, in line with recommendation 19,” the FATF said in a statement on Friday.

It expressed “disappointment” that Iran has so far failed to adopt the FATF standards, saying that Tehran is expected to “proceed swiftly in the reform path to ensure that it addresses all of the remaining items by completing and implementing the necessary Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing reforms.”

The watchdog had earlier extended the suspension of its counter-measures several times as Iran’s legislature was engaged in passing the relevant bills.

In October 2018, Iran's parliament approved four bills put forward by the government to meet standards set by the FATF. Only two of them have so far gone into effect and the fate of the two others, one on Iran’s accession to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the other one a bill amending Iran’s Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) law, is still in limbo.

On October 14, 2019, Member of Expediency Council (EC) Hojatoleslam Gholamreza Mesbahi Moghaddam informed that the expediency Council has stopped investigating Palermo bill adding that “after a year of having the bill discussed in the council, since the sanctions are not lifted yet, the bill is considered rejected based on the view of the Guardian Council.”

“The expediency council was expected to vote on Palermo bill [the bill that endorses Iran's accession to the UN Convention on Transnational Crime] and now it has passed the set deadline,” he said.

“Accordingly, the council cannot make any decisions about the bill,” he added.

“The Guardian Council could interfere with the issue before having the case referred to the Expediency council but now the final vote is the one issued finally by the Guardian Council i.e. the Palermo bill is off agenda,” he explained.

In mid-June, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) announced that Iran had to complete reforms that would bring it into line with global norms or face consequences until October.

However, it said that the FATF can only consider laws which are approved completely. 

One of the actions Iran was required to take to appease the FATF is joining the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), which is also called the Palermo Convention, a 2000 United Nations-sponsored multilateral treaty against transnational organized crime.

The other action was to ratify the CFT, the convention combatting financing of terrorism.

On October 7, 2018, the Majlis (parliament) voted in favor of the CFT. However, the oversight Guardian Council rejected the bill by finding 22 faults with it.

To become a law, the Guardian Council should vet the bill for compliance with the Constitution.

In cases when the parliament and the Guardian Council disagree on a bill, the issue is referred to the Expediency Council for final arbitration.

MNA/PressTV

[Butifldrm]

Japan and France are making a proposal to lend Iran $ 18.2 billion

10:21 - 20/10/2019

0

 

  

Iran

Information / Baghdad ..

Japan and France have submitted a joint proposal to Iran on a plan to enable it to obtain a loan of $ 18.2 billion with oil guarantees, provided Tehran returns to abide by the nuclear deal.

Tokyo has decided to support the French initiative announced by Paris last summer to provide $ 15 billion in aid to Iran after Tehran demanded an increase in its loans because of the impact of the sanctions.

These funds are to be used only for the purchase of food and medical.

The Japanese government hopes the financial support will help launch a dialogue between Tehran and Washington over its nuclear program. Done / 25

https://www.almaalomah.com/2019/10/20/433372/

[Butifldrm]

Global Research: Iran surrounded by 45 US bases… Who threatens the world?

20:58 - 20/10/2019

 

  

Information / Translation…

Despite US allegations about the Iranian threats, the reality shows the exact opposite as Iran is surrounded by 45 US military bases on its various border areas, according to a report by GlobalResearch website.

"These bases are centered around the Gulf and to the east. These US bases are located in Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, where there are tens of thousands of US troops stationed permanently, and there are other US bases established in Afghanistan, a country on the border with Iran from the east, along with nearly 15,000 American soldier. ”

He added that "despite its good relations with Iraq , the United States maintains military installations on Iraqi territory, which has about 5,500 US troops."

He continued, "Western politicians, such as US Vice President Mike Pence, claimed that Iran poses a major threat to" peace and security. But who's really threatening from here? Iran's spending on weapons is much lower than Western allies such as Saudi Arabia and Israel, let alone a fraction of Washington's. These facts are often overlooked, but US intelligence has told Congress in the US capital that Iranian arms expenditures are consistently low by Middle East standards.

"The United States' aspirations to Iran are to continue to exert intense pressure against the religious leadership in Tehran, especially the Iranian people, in the hope of causing serious destabilization. This is the main reason to emphasize the continuation of US sanctions against IranThese economic measures are aimed at weakening the foundations of Iranian society and fueling dissatisfaction and confusion among the Iranian masses, ultimately leading to regime change. Much of the same thinking was behind Washington's 60-year-old blockade of Cuba, but because of these erroneous US policies, the Iranian people have become increasingly bitter against America. According to a study conducted by the Iran Foundation in December 2018, more than 80% of Iranians have views that are not favorable to the United States, which is reflected negatively on those policies that try to separate the Iranian people from their leadership and the association has become stronger over time. Finished / 25 z

https://www.almaalomah.com/2019/10/20/433495/

Edited October 20, 2019 by Butifldrm

[yota691]

Tehran reiterates: commitment to all the terms of the nuclear agreement or not

By AhadNA3 21/10/2019 02:20 PM | The number of readings: 30

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said his country would take the fourth step in reducing its nuclear obligations if the Europeans fail to fulfill their commitments. He explained that the details of the fourth step will be disclosed once the Supreme Council for National Security takes its decision in this regard. In the meantime, Iran has revealed new steps to be taken in the development of its nuclear program.

Either commitment to the full terms of the nuclear agreement signed between Tehran and representatives of the international community is mutual, or no position, which Tehran reiterates on every occasion.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that if the Europeans failed to fulfill their obligations towards Tehran, Iran would take the fourth step in reducing compliance with the nuclear deal, adding that details of this step would be announced once the Supreme National Security Council took a decision on the issue and exhausted the deadline for the Europeans. .

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi also reiterated that Tehran has always sought to push Europe to abide by its nuclear commitments to Iran, and welcomes any move to that end.

"The normalization of economic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the obligations under Security Council Resolution 2231," Abbas Moussaoui told reporters on Sunday. "We therefore welcome any action to this end, whether by the English government, any European government or any private company to implement this." Commitments to Iran.

In parallel to diplomacy, Tehran is continuing to develop its nuclear program. Asghar Zareian, special assistant to the director of the Atomic Energy Organization of the country, revealed that new steps will soon be taken in the development of the Arak heavy water reactor. This will constitute the completion of fifty percent of the reactor.

Zaraian pointed to the country's self-sufficiency in manufacturing new generations of centrifuges. Finished 2

[yota691]

 

Tehran pursues multiple ways to smuggle oil - Internet
Iranian oil .. serial smuggling / 6 / roads and Iraq is involved
2019-10-20
"Large quantities of Iranian oil exports enter China without appearing in or passing through Chinese customs data, but remain in floating storage facilities outside the border and are treated as part of China's strategic oil reserves."

———————————————-

Ryan Gulnar

Iran is circumventing the long list of sanctions with a long list of alternative routes that allow it to export its oil to several countries, especially East and Central Asia, despite the US tightening sanctions against any party that cooperates with # Tehran in smuggling or buying oil from it.

Tehran's efforts to smuggle its oil through illegal (secret) ways to secure a financial return to it, help it in its stifling economic crisis, all sectors of life are stopped, and if the oil sector stops, it means that # Iran is over, which is rejected by the Iranian regime .

Iraq through its factions

Tehran is taking several routes in smuggling its oil, and Iraq is one of them, loading its oil from it as non-Iranian, «This is done in # Shatt_arab through Iraqi ships, to be smuggled as Iraqi oil, not Iranian», says an optical official, who preferred not to be named .

He adds to the " solution Iraq , " that «the process of securing the smuggling of oil and transport to Iraqi ships from its Iranian counterpart is under the supervision of factions loyal to Tehran, which seized the ports of Basra, so facilitates the procedures despite the local government, which knows what is happening, and can not move a resident».

UAE also

This is not the only path that Iran takes through its neighborhood, but in addition to the path of # neighboring Emirates , smuggling its oil through UAE ports to evade the #US sanctions and exporting its oil to foreign markets.

In a report prepared in early April, Reuters revealed that Tehran loaded a GRS-1 ship with fuel oil in January and transported it to two smaller vessels in the UAE's waters. “Fuel Oil” to #Singapore , in February this year.

« Abu Dhabi enjoys close proximity to Iran, and therefore Tehran may have resorted to this means; to speed the discharge of its production, especially since the ports of Dubai # equipped and less risk, and makes it easier to process that Abu Dhabi is the first importer of food from Tehran in # Gulf States , so from It is easy to smuggle oil under that banner, ”says oil expert“ Hamza al-Jawahiri ”to “ Solution Iraq ”.

AIS and its maze

One of Tehran's most important ways of smuggling oil is to load Panama- flagged ships and hide their place by stopping the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) automatic positioning system (AIS) to identify each vessel until it enters the port of arrival to avoid tracking its movement.

Florian Thaler, CEO of Xoil, noted that tracking the movement of carriers when switching off the meta signaling device needs a very sophisticated package of tools, and, of course, few carriers follow this advanced package of tools. .

He added that «the different techniques used in tracking the shipments applied by each company complicates matters, especially since the transfer from ship to ship has become the preferred means of smuggling to Iran to avoid sanctions and continue to export oil».

Hundreds of ships sail in the Arabian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, making monitoring very expensive for Washington, which is now trying to secure international support for Operation Sentinel to protect oil tankers there, leaving a margin for Tehran to circumvent sanctions. America, until America provides surveillance.

/ 6 / methods / 4 / of which are known

Back to the routes Iran uses to smuggle its oil, it is not specified, but Iranian President # Hassan_Rouhani said earlier, «his country continues its oil exports in six ways America does not know at all», without giving further details.

But there are at least two ways that can be clearly defined: the first is the transfer of oil through Iranian tankers to Syria and Lebanon, where it is stored there until securing His clients, mostly oil brokers working on the black market, ”explains oil policy expert Sabah Alou.

«The second is through the oil shipping large tankers and floating in the sea, until they find customers have, or store their cargo in the " Dalian "Chinese port», it draws for " the solution of Iraq " , and the addition of these two methods to the first two those two, the knowledge of four ways, The fate of two of Rouhani's six methods remains unknown.

China in exchange for huge cuts

But what about one of the ways I mentioned earlier: China, China, which is the second largest consumer of crude oil in the world after the United States #  12.5 million barrels per day, and the largest importer with an average of 10 million barrels per day, how to buy # Beijing oil from Iran ?

"Beijing is helping Tehran master the circumvention of US sanctions on Iranian oil exports. China plays a big role in providing forged documents for Iranian oil shipments to give it legal status in exchange for huge price cuts when buying Iranian oil," according to Iraqi economists. Speak to “ Solution Iraq ”.

"Large quantities of Iranian oil exports enter China without appearing in or passing through Chinese customs data, but are kept in floating storage facilities outside the border and treated as part of China's strategic oil reserves," Bloomberg reports. .

Damascus through ( Sandro ) and ( Jasmine )

As for the way of transporting oil to Syria, this is done through two mysterious companies based in Lebanon, which own and operate tankers transporting Iranian oil illegally in the east of the Mediterranean .

This is done through the Sandro and Yasmine oil tankers, where they have transported Iranian oil to other vessels off the coast of Syria after the GPS was shut down, all from data from TankerTrackers, a US company that closely follows shipments. Iranian oil.

“On July 25, the Iranian-flagged Silva 1 tanker carried oil from a ship to the Sandro just under 20 kilometers off the Syrian coast,” she said. For violations by Tehran with Damascus , which is also subject to US sanctions.

Individuals and companies not countries

The International Center for Economic Consultancy had previously shown that "there are Iranian people who have formed dozens of companies in Europe, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and India for trade and export."

He pointed out that «the Iranian oil company put oil tankers in international waters at the disposal of the owners of these companies, to sell their cargo in Rotterdam, Singapore or Macau».

The Center pointed out that «there are people affiliated to Iran were able to sell millions of barrels of oil illegally, and instead of transferring the amount of sales to the state treasury, they invested in Malaysia, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan».

Stressing, that «the main parties that buy Iranian oil currently, are people and companies, not countries, where they buy and sell on behalf of Iran».

The United States last year pulled out of Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and asked Iranian oil buyers to stop buying on May 1, 2018, or face severe sanctions.

Despite the decline in the volume of Iran's oil exports to / 500 / thousand barrels per day, after it was until October 2018, the third largest oil producer in OPEC after Saudi Arabia and Iraq on average / 3. 85 / million barrels per day.

However, America has not succeeded in "zeroing" the Iranian oil exports as it wishes, confirming Tehran's resistance to its sanctions to date.

[yota691]

For the sixth time ... Tehran fails to stop the financing of terrorism and money laundering

 

International Financial Action Task Force threatens to impose measures to isolate Iranian economy

Tariq Al Shami is a journalist specializing in American and Arab affairs @ tarek21shamy  Wednesday 23 October 2019 23:09

 

 

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (Reuters)

 

Once again, Iran is proving its failure to implement international agreements by halting money laundering and terrorist financing. President Donald Trump after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal in May 2018.

According to a statement issued by the International Working Group (fatf), an international body monitoring money laundering and countering terrorism, Iran failed for the sixth time to implement key parts of the reform plan and there were very few signs that Tehran was willing to abide by the agreement. The money and military equipment to many terrorist groups and movements, including a large part transferred through the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, which was subjected to US sanctions recently.

This month's statement by the international community indicates that Iran does not criminalize the financing of terrorism, nor does it identify or freeze the assets of terrorist groups in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions, as well as failing to show how the authorities monitor and punish illegal financial transfers. .

 

Strict warning

The international community warned that Iran would face severe consequences if it did not start implementing the Palermo and counter-terrorism agreements in line with international standards before February 2020, and that the group would call on its members to return to countermeasures, which were temporarily suspended after signing Nuclear Agreement.

Toby Dershowitz, an expert at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank, says the IWG's actions demonstrate its seriousness in forcing Iran to reform its lenient terrorist financing environment by taking two important actions: tightening reporting on remittances and increasing accountability requirements. External oversight of financial institutions, their branches and agents inside Iran, as well as the threat of reimposition of countermeasures in February if Iran does not comply.

Stop banking with Iran

She explained that the international financial sector will be notified of the failure of Iran and therefore will stop dealing with Iran until the cessation of terrorist financing and money laundering operations. Tehran is more interested in continuing terrorist financing and money laundering than in integrating into the international financial system.

Dershowitz predicted that the Iranian regime would face difficulties in convincing the people that it is a priority, since the priority is to support terrorist organizations and activities.

A history of dribbling and failure

The Iranian parliament began the debate on the steps of joining the convention on combating the financing of terrorism and money laundering after the exit of the United States of the nuclear agreement, with strong opposition from conservatives and the Revolutionary Guards, who were concerned about the restraint of Iran's foreign policy this law where they consider that the adoption of new laws, will lead To halt Iranian support for the Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas, which are classified by the United States, the European Union, and other terrorist organizations.

In June last year, the Iranian parliament voted to suspend the debate on joining the Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism for two months pending what would be resolved by the nuclear deal with the major powers.
Iran has sought to attract foreign investors after the 2015 nuclear deal with the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain, under which a number of sanctions were lifted in exchange for Tehran's agreement to curb its nuclear program. International Finance in the hope of being removed from the blacklist prompted some foreign investors not to deal with it.
Iran was blacklisted in 2009 for the first time by a proposal from the International Financial Action Task Force. Years later, due to ongoing tensions over the Iranian nuclear issue, Iran was placed alongside North Korea, but worse than the blacklist. To take punitive measures against her.
However, after the nuclear deal and in order to remove Tehran from the blacklist, the Iranian government submitted a list to parliament under the title of combating the financing of terrorism.
This led to the blacklisting of Iran for a period of one year, which was extended several times, and its final exit is subject to full membership and acceptance of all the prevailing laws and resolutions in the International Working Group. Worsening the situation for its financial sector, which began to suffer the U.S. decision in May 2018 to withdraw from the nuclear deal.

[Butifldrm]

US Eases Regulations On Iran Food & Medicine Sales To Help "The Iranian People"

by Tyler Durden

Fri, 10/25/2019 - 20:20

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Is a humane softening of US sanctions on Iran currently in the works? A new US Treasury announcement suggests this is the case, as it is "taking steps to ease sales of food and medicine to Iran amid stringent sanctions imposed on the country by the Trump administration," according to the AP. 

Critics of Trump's far reaching sanctions after the May 2018 US pullout of the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), which especially hit the energy, banking, aviation, and auto sectors, have long argued the economic punitive measures have only served to make life miserable for the common populace, depriving people of outside food and medicine shipments, as well as safety-related technology, similar to the humanitarian crisis that unfolded in sanctioned Iraq under Saddam in the 1990's.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin previously announced sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran, via Reuters. 

A new "humanitarian mechanism" will seek to ensure crucial aid can still get inside the country. An official statement on the treasury website announced Friday morning:

 

 

This mechanism will help the international community perform enhanced due diligence on humanitarian trade to ensure that funds associated with permissible trade in support of the Iranian people are not diverted by the Iranian regime to develop ballistic missiles, support terrorism, or finance other malign activities. 

It will seek to only allow "permissible trade" to support "the Iranian people" even while continuing to isolate the regime's political and military leadership. 

“This administration remains committed to the unfettered flow of humanitarian aid to the Iranian people, who have suffered for forty years under the mismanagement of this corrupt regime. This new humanitarian mechanism will help international companies that seek to engage in permissible humanitarian trade with Iran to ensure that they do not run afoul of sanctions,” Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said as part of the new mechanism. 

Over the past months Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has warned the only way it would enter into negotiations with the Trump administration, as the US president previously sought, is conditioned on immediate sanctions relief. 

Until then, it's promised to gradually pull out of its nuclear commitments under the JCPOA by continuing to breach Uranium enrichment caps agreed to in 2015. 

Though this latest measure which seeks to soften the sanctions impact on the common populace is unlikely to cause any level of rejoicing in Tehran, it could be the start of an eventual opening after a hot summer of boiling tensions and dangerous 'tanker wars' in the Gulf.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-treasury-eases-regulations-food-medicine-sales-iran-humanitarian-mechanism

[yota691]

26 October 2019 - 15:08

 

Iranian parliament asks Zarif on money laundering issue

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will attend a meeting of the Iranian parliament next Sunday to provide clarification on the existence of money laundering in the country.

According to Mehr news agency , the Iranian Foreign Minister Mamedjawad Zarif will attend on Sunday (3 NOV) in the Islamic Shura Council meeting to respond to one of deputies to the questions.

The council's question is about Zarif's statements regarding money laundering in the country.

The Iranian Foreign Minister said in October last year on the subject of Iran's accession to the joint financial working group "FATF" and the opposition of some internal parties to join Iran to this group, said: I think that many of these opposition comes from the sincerity and concern of some Behind the scenes of some of these oppositions are economic interests. Money laundering is a reality in the country. "

News code 1898790

[yota691]

IMF: Iran needs oil price at $ 195 to adjust its budget

Economie

2019-10-28 | 07:33

 

 

227 views

Iran will need an oil price of $ 194.6 a barrel to balance its budget next year, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday.

The Fund said in a report seen by Alsumaria News that " is expected to register Iran , a fiscal deficit by 4.5 percent this year and 5.1 percent next year," indicating that " Iran will need for the price of oil at $ 194.6 a barrel to balance its budget Next year".

 

Iran has seen a rise in oil revenues after a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers ended a three-year-old sanctions regime over its disputed nuclear program.

 

But the new sanctions imposed by Washington after President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the deal in 2018 are the most damaging US sanctions.

 

The International Monetary Fund said Iran 's economy is expected to contract 9.5 percent this year, compared with a 6 percent contraction in an earlier estimate, but real GDP growth is expected to remain stable next year.

[yota691]

28-10-2019 03:08 PM

America vows to impose more sanctions on Iran

 

 

Baghdad / News

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will increase economic pressure on Iran over its nuclear program, US Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin said on Monday.

"We have carried out a campaign of extreme pressure on sanctions," Mnuchin said during a visit to Israel.

Mnuchin made the remarks to reporters standing next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who urged him to increase pressure on Iran.

"We will continue to press more and more," Mnuchin said. "I just came from a very positive working lunch with your team.

[Butifldrm]

 

2019/10/31 13:50

• The number of readings 21
• Section: Iraq
•  

Tehran: The fourth step to reduce the nuclear deal is ready for implementation

BAGHDAD / Obelisk: Iran has announced that it has arranged for its fourth step to reduce its commitments in the nuclear deal.

"A committee in the Supreme National Security Council has been working on the necessary arrangements for Iran to take our fourth step to reduce its obligations under the nuclear deal," Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told state television on Thursday.

Mousavi added: "We are likely to implement the fourth step on schedule November 15 in the absence of tangible results of European efforts to implement Europe's commitments to Iran."

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on May 8, 2018, that his country would withdraw from the 2015 agreement with Tehran over its nuclear program, resume tough economic sanctions aimed at drying up Iran's financial resources, and impose sanctions on buyers of Iranian crude oil and products. .

Iran responded by announcing recently a non-compliance with another set of criteria agreed in 2015, and took three steps to reduce its nuclear pledges, most recently on September 7, when it lifted restrictions on research and level of uranium enrichment and centrifuges.

Obelisk follow-up agencies

http://almasalah.com/ar/news/181382/طهران-الخطوة-الرابعة-لتقليص-الاتفاق-النووي-جاهزة-للتنفيذ

 

 

[yota691]

Analyst: An increasing number of major countries are moving away from the use of the dollar

 01 Nov 2019 02:09 PM
The US dollar has been the world's leading reserve currency for decades, but this situation could be threatened as major countries seek to undermine its importance, an expert at the Institute for Global Security Analysis warned.

Key Corporations such as China, Russia and the European Union (EU) have strong motivations to reduce dependence on the dollar, said Ann Cohen, co-director of the Energy and Security Research Foundation.

"We don't know what is coming, but what we do know is that the current situation is unsustainable," she said in comments with CNBC. "A growing number of countries, especially the superpowers, are shifting away from the dollar."

There is one factor that limits the enthusiasm of countries about the green paper, which is likely to be subject to US jurisdiction when the transaction is in dollars.

Corin cited Washington's unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Iran in 2018, which is followed by the restoration of sanctions against Tehran.

"Europe wants to do business with Iran, and it doesn't want to be subject to US law, isn't that true?"

As a result, countries had a very strong incentive to shift away from the use of the green paper.

The US dollar's share of international reserves has declined recently but still holds the largest share among other currencies.

 

[yota691]

01-11-2019 02:48 PM

US Treasury Secretary holds talks in India with mounting pressure on Iran

 

 

Baghdad / News

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - US Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin will hold talks with Indian leaders in New Delhi on Friday as part of a tour to rally support against Iran's nuclear program, an Indian official said.

Manochin and his US delegation will travel to Mumbai, India's financial capital, on Saturday for talks with Governor of the Reserve Bank of India Shaktikanta Das and other central bank officials, before meeting later with Indian business leaders, an RBI official said.

An Indian government official said the US secretary would hold talks in New Delhi with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman. No further details were provided.

The US Treasury Department said the United States and six Gulf countries agreed on Wednesday to impose sanctions on 25 companies, banks and individuals linked to Iran's support for armed groups, including Hezbollah.

Mnuchin, accompanied by Donald Trump's top adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, began a regional tour on October 25, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, India, Qatar and Israel.

India stopped buying Iranian oil in May, following renewed sanctions, and its refineries are now buying more crude from some suppliers, including Mexico, and signed new contracts with US companies.

President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Tehran after the United States withdrew from the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.

In addition to clamping down on Iranian oil exports, sanctions have also severed Iranian banks' relations with the financial world.

[yota691]

31-10-2019 10:38 AM

Smuggling "Lebanon dollars" to Iraq and the axis of Iran

 

 

Baghdad / News

Informed sources within the Lebanese banking sector revealed to "Alarabiya.net" the existence of a systematic campaign to smuggle dollars from the Lebanese market to neighboring countries, including Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran.

Looking closely at the dramatic events of the past two months, he sees this campaign, which targets the reputation of Lebanese banks and creates a state of panic and intimidation that some are trying to spread in the hearts of the Lebanese to undermine the reputation of the Lebanese economy and shake the value of the national currency, according to sources.

Buds of this campaign began to emerge with the high tone of Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah against the backdrop of the US sanctions against Jamal Trust Bank. God made their money from the Lebanese banks towards Syria.

Immobilize the economic movement

The dramatic track, as planned according to political whims, did not stop there. .

What did not take into account, with the start of popular protests against the regime and paralyzing the economic movement, and with it the closure of banks for 13 days, which opened the door wide for further spreading rumors about the collapse of the exchange rate of the lira, and some money changers, contrary to the law, manipulated the official rate of the lira against the dollar The parallel market reached 1700 and 1800 lira against the dollar.

Smuggling of dollars in cash

The state of chaos in the country was quickly exploited by some money-changers who smuggled large amounts of dollars in cash abroad, specifically to Turkey for profits and illicit trade, according to economist Jassim Ajaka in an exclusive interview with Arabic.

"In the past two days, a money changer trying to smuggle $ 1.3 million in cash out every 48 hours has been arrested, which is very dangerous because there are dozens of similar cases that follow the same approach for illegal gain," he said.

He added: "There are money changers who recently entered the Lebanese territory with different Arab currencies, and then switched them in Beirut markets to the dollar to be shipped to Turkey."

Plot scenarios

According to information revealed to the Arabic.Net from banking sources informed, the smuggling of dollars from Lebanese markets abroad is not only Turkey, but also shipped to Syria, Iraq and Iran for use in financing operations in those countries already lack of dollars due to US sanctions On each other.

If the Attorney General of the discriminatory Ghassan Oweidat has ordered the prevention of the exodus of cash dollars in large quantities in the bags of money changers and merchants through Beirut International Airport and border crossings in an attempt to control the situation, saying in a statement that "the ban was imposed until the Central Bank of Lebanon determines a new mechanism regulating Money. "

Although it is among the banking and financial laws followed, Law No. 42 dated 24/11/2015, which stipulates "the declaration of the transfer of funds across the border when the value of more than 15 thousand dollars or the equivalent in other currencies and who owns, source and destination", but the lesson remains in Controlling the already fragmented borders, especially illegal crossings on the Lebanese-Syrian borders.

Fearing for the lira?

Amidst all the conspiracy scenarios being woven against the reputation of Lebanon's banking sector, there are real fears and warnings of a runaway bank branches for citizens to withdraw their deposits or transfer money abroad after banks return to work on Friday.

He reassures that there is no fear for the stability of the exchange rate of the lira against the dollar, and no rush will happen to citizens withdraw their money from banks, `` since most of the money deposited in banks frozen in return for depositors to receive high interest, however, banks are prepared for all possible scenarios. ''

Loss of confidence

While he stressed that there are no restrictions imposed by the Banque du Liban on the movement of capital through the financial banking channels, as this will lose confidence in the banking system, but does not hide that the country will enter a new stage in the ceiling of cash withdrawal, ie, "cash."

In contrast, banking sources are reassured that the "systematic" state of intimidation is unfounded. It serves political backgrounds and some players on the scene.

While rumors abound with the imminent financial maturity of the state due to be repaid on November 22, high-level sources confirmed that the Central Bank of Lebanon will not default on the repayment of the country's debt owed by the dollar amounting to 1.5 billion dollars, especially as the sources said, "the funds have been secured."

 

[yota691]

Rouhani sends message to Iraqi and Gulf leaders on Strait of Hormuz

Political | 07:08 - 02/11/2019

 

 

 

 

BAGHDAD -
Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed Saturday that President Hassan Rouhani has sent a message to the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Iraq on the "Hormuz Peace Initiative" to secure maritime navigation in the region.
"Following the presentation of the Hormuz peace initiative by the Iranian president at the UN General Assembly, President Rouhani sent a message to the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman) as well as Iraq," Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said. He invited them to contribute to the implementation of the initiative.
Mousavi added that this demonstrates "the seriousness of Iran and the importance it attaches to the countries of the region in ensuring the stability and security of the Gulf region."

[yota691]

Central Bank of Iran: US extreme pressure plan failed

12:16 - 04/11/2019

 

  

Information / Baghdad ..

Iran's central bank governor said on Monday that the US extreme pressure plan had failed, noting that economic efforts would henceforth be focused on raising GDP.

"One year has passed since the start of the economic war, the banking embargo and the embargo on the export of Iranian oil by the United States, but failed to achieve its main objective of destroying and subduing Iran's economy," he said in a statement.

"The value of the foreign currency, which the Americans counted as an important indicator, has fallen to 113,000 riyals now, compared to 143,500 on this day last year, which indicates a 21 percent appreciation of the national currency."

He said that "inflation caused by the change in the value of foreign currency and disruption in the external sector of the economy caused great pressure on the Iranian economy, especially low-income segments and the welfare side of a large number of people were affected by the embargo, which needs to be reformed, but the economy witnessed the return of relative stability and recorded economic indicators Inflation and growth in the non-oil sectors are as important as quiet progress. ”

He stressed the need to "focus economic efforts, from now on, to raise the size of GDP and strengthen national production, reduce the dependence of the government budget on oil and secure the economy from the volatility of its revenues and accelerate the reform of the banking system in the country." Done / 25

[Butifldrm]

Iranians chant ‘Death to America’ to mark US embassy seizure anniversary

REUTERS

November 04, 201907:16

371

Crowds packing the streets around the former mission, dubbed the “den of spies” after Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday renewed a ban on talks with the United States

DUBAI: Thousands of Iranians chanted “Death to America” near the old US embassy on Monday, the 40th anniversary on the seizure of the mission and a day after Iran’s supreme leader vowed it would not lift a ban on talks with the United States.
State television showed crowds packing the streets around the former mission, dubbed the “den of spies” after Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution. Marches and rallies were being held in some 1,000 communities across the country, state media said.
Hard-line Islamist students stormed the embassy soon after the fall of the US-backed shah, and 52 Americans were held hostage there for 444 days. The two countries have been enemies ever since.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday renewed a ban on talks with the United States, describing the two countries as implacable foes.
“Those who believe that negotiations with the enemy will solve our problems are 100% wrong,” he said.
Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament gave initial approval to a measure requiring schoolbooks to cover “America’s crimes.” Lawmakers also chanted “Death to America.”
Relations between the two countries have reached a crisis over the past year since US President Donald Trump abandoned a 2015 pact between Iran and world powers under which it accepted curbs to its nuclear program in return for lifting sanctions.
The United States has reimposed sanctions aimed at halting all Iranian oil exports, saying it seeks to force it to negotiate to reach a wider deal.
Khamenei has banned Iranian officials from holding talks unless the United States returns to the nuclear deal and lifts all sanctions.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1578841/middle-east