AFP 2018 / NICHOLAS KAMM
The EU and US are at odds after the August 6th reimposition of the sanctions on Iran.
On the evening of August 6th, the first sanctions on Iran were signed of by Donald Trump. They target the acquisition of dollar bank notes, trade in gold and other metals, transactions related to the Iranian rial, and purchases of commercial passenger aircraft. There is a second round of sanctions coming on November 4th, which target Iran’s oil exports and energy sector.
US President Donald Trump, in a statement issued by the White House on August 6th said that despite the imposed sanctions he is still open to taking part in dialogue between the US and Iran. The statement was as follows: “As we continue applying maximum economic pressure on the Iranian regime, I remain open to reaching a more comprehensive deal that addresses the full range of the regime’s malign activities, including its ballistic missile program and its support for terrorism.”
Sputnik News also cited an unnamed White House official, who claimed that the United States is putting together a global coalition to counter Iran’s malign activity. According to him, the economic pressure campaign also has the objective of denying the financial resources to finance terrorism. According to the anonymous source, the US is happy to have entities around the world supporting the US in the endeavor: “We’re [the United States] very pleased that nearly 100 international firms have announced their intent to leave the Iranian market, particularly in the energy and the finance sectors.”
Furthermore, in his statement on August 6th, President Trump called to all partner nations to take steps to pressure Tehran into changing its destabilizing behavior and reintegrate with the global economy.
Regarding any counteractions, Trump had the following to say: “The United States is fully committed to enforcing all of our sanctions, and we will work closely with nations conducting business with Iran to ensure complete compliance. Individuals or entities that fail to wind down activities with Iran risk severe consequences.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement on August 6th, praised the newly imposed sanctions and called to Europe to do the same.
However, on August 5th, EU foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini and foreign ministers from the UK, France, and Germany in a statement said that the European Union’s Blocking Statute would enter into force on August 7th to protect EU companies that are doing legitimate business in Iran. The statement released by the European commission was as follows: “As the first batch of re-imposed US sanctions on Iran takes effect, the EU’s updated Blocking Statute enters into force on 7 August to mitigate their impact on the interests of EU companies doing legitimate business in Iran.”
The foreign ministers of the EU members approved amendments to the Blocking Statute on July 16th. The legal act has the aim of invalidating Washington’s judicial decisions and administrative actions with the framework of anti-Iran sanctions on the territory of Europe. In short it has the objective of forbidding EU-based companies from complying to US restrictions.
Furthermore, on August 6th, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom expressed their regret of the reimposition of the sanctions by the US in a joint statement. They also further elaborated that the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) was working and that Iran’s nuclear program was peaceful as confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 11 different reports. They further commented on the sanctions, saying they are illegal and vowing to intensify the efforts to thwart the US measures and to preserve the Iran Nuclear Deal.
Early on August 7th, as an answer to the EU’s bid to fight the sanctions, Donald Trump posted the following on his twitter: “The Iran sanctions have officially been cast. These are the most biting sanctions ever imposed, and in November they ratchet up to yet another level. Anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with the United States. I am asking for WORLD PEACE, nothing less!”
There is also criticism from the US side. On August 6th, US Senator Rich Durbin also expressed his concerns of the sanctions in a press release, stating that Trump’s move would divide the US from its allies. His words were: “Today’s actions, yet again, put the US in violation of this deal [JCPOA]. It risks reopening a resolved conflict and will divide us further from our European allies. President Trump’s foreign policy is a dangerous gamble with nuclear weapons.” According to him the Iran Nuclear Deal has worked in the past and still continues to work.
After the reimposition on August 6th, Iran quickly accused the US of attempts to destabilize the country. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters that the Trump’s decision to sign off on the sanctions is aimed at destabilizing the country. Furthermore, he posted the following statement on twitter: “Trump Administration wants the world to believe it’s concerned about the Iranian people. Yet the very first sanctions it reimposed have canceled licenses for sales of 200+ passenger jets under absurd pretexts, endangering ordinary Iranians. US hypocrisy knows no bounds.”
On May 8th, Trump announced the withdrawal of the US from the JCPOA. The deal was signed in 2015 by Iran, the European Union, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany. As a result of withdrawing from the deal Trump also announced the enforcement of sanctions on Iran, the first of which were imposed on August 6th.
Iran threatened to also leave the nuclear deal, however the EU undertook to fight the sanctions, as it is currently doing. However, on July 6th, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in an interview with a French radio station said that any comprehensive measures would probably not be ready for the August sanctions, and it would be realistic to aim for a November intervention. His words were: “We are trying to do it before sanctions are imposed at the start of August and then another set of sanctions in November. For the start August, it seems a bit short, but we are trying to do it by November.”
When Trump bans any imports to the US from those countries that trade with Iran, the response should be to ban ALL imports from the US . Especially all the overpriced and unnecessary US weapons :)
And ban any raw materials from entering the US.
Yes and also prevent the US importing plundered goods from nations under the ‘ US boots.’
A collision hmmm let me guess US. Israel and Saudi Arabia?
The real axis of evil.
List of reasons to impose sanctions on the USA:
1. The USA is the primary sponsor of terrorism 2. Weapons made in the USA are a danger to every other nation on earth 3. The Washington regime is the leading rogue regime 4. The USA is attempting to exert hegemony over every other nation on earth (except Israel) 5. The USA is the number one supporter of Israel and Israel is the other leading rogue regime
You forgot Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Wahabi groupings.
That’s covered under points 1 and 2, but you’re right there. It’s a particularly malign version of Islam. There’s no evidence that Iran has similar ideas of imposing their version of Islam on everyone else as the Wahabists are. Iran hasn’t started any wars for over a millenium as far as I know.
Iran once truthfully stated that they hadn’t INITIATED any wars in over 300 years. Their religion is also tolerant of other religions as well. Given a choice of living either in Iran or Saudi Arabia, what moron would choose Saudi Arabia. I do find it interesting that the main creators and sponsors of terrorism are allies… i.e. Saudi Arabia, Israel, US. US in the Middle East because of being controlled by the money of Zionist lobbies, neocon (t) stink tanks and Israeli firsters in Congress.
You are right on the money. My dad spent time in Iran and KSA as well. In Iran, one could walk around freely, no chaperon, no conditions, no problems. In KSA, you stayed on the compound that is protected, you DO NOT go out alone and you only go where you are told you can…no site-seeing or even talking to locals permitted.
Non psychos are content with being a part of their families and communities and dont have an urge to lord over others. Thats why.
6. The US is the only nation to use nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and is a clear and present danger to the world. Don’t sanction the US. Just ask them to pay for their imports in gold or IMF special drawing rights, SDRs. Then their whole exceptional game will be up.
Some additional reaons to impose sanctions on the USA
6. The USA is the Biggest Massmurderer of the Past 250 Years (including the Gulags who were financed by New York Banksters) 7. The USA is Led By Suicidal Dangerous Psychopathic Fucktards out fir the Total Destruction of Earth and its Inhabitants 8. The USA even Kills their Own Population in Endless Wars & False Flag Attacks 9. The USA can Commit Endless War-Crimes & Crimes against Humanity without Persecution…they are Untouchable…
This is make or break for Europe.They can either knuckle under or do as Russia has done…make new alliances, change manufacturing partners and dump the dollar. Further complications for the US would be blocking US energy supplies and doubling down on Russian and Iranian supplies. Then there are all the joint manufacturing agreements. Airbus could go to Russia and China to replace the US parts they are presently using. This would even reflect more profit more than likely. Where would the buffoons economic turn-around (HAH!) be then? What will this do to NATO? All in all …a VERY big gamble by the US mafia. Will the Europeans buckle..or will they stand up? The future of the US and Israeli world domination will be bleak, at best. The time to rebuke the US is now.
This will break the EU as the slaves do not know how to break their chains. They need the help of the free BRICS and SCO countries.
True. EU passed away many years ago when they participated in the invasion of Libya, Syria and Ukraine. Now its too late. Now all the European arselickers, snitches and wagging lapdogs realize a well deserved American knife in the back. Europe have been useful to do the dirty jobs for US.
We first have to get Rid of Our European Dictatorship… Russia shouldn’t Trust those Idiots that are there Now…. it is the Same Folks Who Worked With America for Global Domination…. Dangerous People… an Establishment of Birth Right Seats…Liars…Deceivers… Backstabbers… Traitors.. & Cockroaches
Eventually the EU will cave in and bow to Papa, most off the big EU corporates have already abandon Iran, their number one priorities are markets and profits in the US.
Yup theyll pick the bones later
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/059f68e339202c281c333bec7831690898be946399f2b99991d38750ec876c67.jpg
If you Kiss as Long enough… soon You’ll be Chokin’ on Shit…
At odds? Press speak for the EU is honoring their treaties and the United States of Israel wants to harm Iran at any cost?
The EU are just going through the motions. They have no spine against their US masters unless they are backed up by Russia, China, India, Turkey and other free countries. If these moves fail then Iran may well develop its bomb and spark a nuclear arms race leading to war. Can the EU slaves see this or are their heads too far up the asses of the US masters to hear even their own mum scream for help?
It takes decades to go from zero to weapons-grade uranium and plutonium. But clearly, Iran has realised that the only way to level the playing field with the USA is to have nuclear weapons, as North Korea has proved.
The EU leaders can sense the winds are changing – the public are waking up and increasingly putting politicians on notice. I find it notable the UK is clearly breaking with the US even if mostly words at this point – it is still significant.
If severing alliance with Europe and UK is Trump’s plan, he is executing his plan flawlessly. Why would he want this? If he represents a set of elites displacing the old guard in the US, the elites backing him would want the old guard in the EU gone as well – a New World Swamp. To push out the old guard you need to undermine them and break ties/alliances.
If the EU continue to kowtow to trump, the higher cost of gas and increasingly obvious subservience to the US at the expense of Europeans will lead to widespread resentment – they will be weakened from within. If the EU break with the US and side with Russia, Trump can go to town undermining the EU leaders with everything in the impressive US foreign tool box of nastiness. They with be undermined by external forces. Either way, Trump will fan the internal flames to increase public resentment and given what a lovely group they are, that will not be hard to do.