USA imposes new sanctions against Iran

[bigdaddy1204]

The US has imposed new sanctions against Iran as President Donald Trump has sought to punish Iran for testing self-defence missiles.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/0...154253182.html

Personally I think this act of aggression by the Trump government is foolhardy and will simply strengthen America's enemies, weakening the US and undermining its credibility on the world stage. To all our US friends, you have my sympathy. I know that many good Americans protested strongly against Trump - your brave protests were inspirational and increased my faith in the American people.

In practical terms, the sanctions will empower hardliners in Iran, while undermining moderates. It will serve to strengthen those who favour resistance against America, while undermining those who prefer peaceful cooperation. It's obvious to anyone with half a brain to realise that the only result of this will be to weaken US interests.

On the positive side, I think it's highly unlikely that any of the other powers will follow Trump's example, so the biggest part of Iran's rapprochement with the rest of the world will still be secure. Perhaps if anything, this whole sorry incident simply underlines the folly of the Trump administration, which in the space of barely two weeks has picked a fight with Mexico, has broken its own constitution by attempting to impose a religiously-motivated ban on Muslims, and has dirtied America's image in the eyes of the world.

Ali-Akbar Velayati, the foreign adviser of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, predicted this week that "the US will be the final loser". Unfortunately, I think he is right - but I think the losers will not just be the US. Everyone loses out because of Trump.

Once again, apologies to my American friends. This post pains me to write. I feel all sympathy for your situation and send my best wishes to you.

[alhoon]

Aaamm... according to your source, it's 13 people and 12 entities. It's not that terrible. Sure, it sends a message but, frankly, aside of posturing this is mostly symbolic IMO.

[bigdaddy1204]

Aaamm... according to your source, it's 13 people and 12 entities. It's not that terrible. Sure, it sends a message but, frankly, aside of posturing this is mostly symbolic IMO.

Yes, good point. But then again politics is all about symbols.

[Basil II the B.S]

Read that earlier. Pretty dumb.

Then again, everyone in US politics except Ron Paul seems to think you have to bully Iran one way or another.


Russia called on them though.

[Love Mountain]

Small sanctions, but good job giving Iran an excuse to test missiles. Thanks Donald.

[Admiral Piett]

Iran was going to test missiles regardless and the current old guard government isn't as moderate as they pretend. There was little tangible value to the deal shoehorned through and this was one of the top foreign policy priorities to be tossed in the trash.

[caratacus]

I agree that the Old Guard aren't the least bit moderate, especially senior figures in the Revolutionary Guard. Whilst Iran has actively sought to extend their influence in the Middle East, which in Palestine has brought them in conflict with Israel. But this doesn't in itself justify a hostile position in respect to American foreign policy. Good progress was being made in building better relations between Iran and the US and to tear up the agreement on nuclear proliferation at this stage in the presidency, without so much as a formal notification of intent to do so, is unreasonable and unpragmatic.

So what is with Trump's anti Iran position that has led to this rapid breakdown of relations and having Iran included in the travel ban of terrorist countries?
You could think it his his closeness with Israel, who were very hostile to the lifting of sanctions. But perhaps it could also be because of oil.

The price of oil has been low for some time now and this has had a damaging effect on the oil industry and oil producers. The lifting of sanctions contributed greatly to this because it freed up Iranian oil on world markets and that is a lot of oil, since Iran has the fourth largest reserves in the world. OPEC has already recently agreed a reduction in supply to hike the price up again, which Russia is shortly to come in on. Restrict Iranian oil again, and the price of oil will surge up again. Given that Trump has very close links with American oil companies, they wouldn't be at all unhappy about that, although what it would do for economic growth is another matter.

Oil price edges up as US could be set to issue new Iran sanctions
Friday, 3 February 2017
http://www.thestar.com.my/business/b...ran-sanctions/

Oil Prices Could Rise Further As U.S. Imposes Sanctions On Iran
By Evan Kelly - Feb 03, 2017
http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-Ge...s-On-Iran.html

[Person012345]

I do hope Russia sends Iran some nukes.

[bigdaddy1204]

I do hope Russia sends Iran some nukes.

In what context? As in, supplying nukes for Iran to use? Or as in dropping them on the country? Or building bases for some of its own nuclear weapons in Iran as a deterrent to other countries?

[Roma_Victrix]

I do hope Russia sends Iran some nukes.

That's delusional. Russia, along with China, the US, and the EU (particularly France and the UK) partook in sanctions against Iran while Barack Obama was president, and only lifted these sanctions once it became clear that Iran was willing to negotiate and curb its uranium enrichment project. Russia has no problem hoarding its own nukes that it has retained since the days of the Cold War, but it has no interest in proliferating the most lethal weapon on Earth among foreign powers. Probably bad enough as it is that the US, UK, France, Pakistan, India, China, Russia, and now North Korea (and most likely Israel) all have nuclear weapons. There's a reason why Vasili Arkhipov thwarted a Soviet attempt at using a nuclear strike against the United States Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It's a lesson Moscow has not forgotten, let alone the rest of the world.

[Cyclops]

Jeez wasn't Trump elected as "not the pawn of the Saudis"? This is precisely the sort of crap that Clinton was accused of planning.

I suspect Trump is flailing around looking for an enemy so his domestic opponents have to fall in line behind him. We will know if this is the case if he keep staring brushfires until one or more take off.

[fkizz]

Jeez wasn't Trump elected as "not the pawn of the Saudis"? This is precisely the sort of crap that Clinton was accused of planning.

I suspect Trump is flailing around looking for an enemy so his domestic opponents have to fall in line behind him. We will know if this is the case if he keep staring brushfires until one or more take off.

If I'm not mistaken the Saudis were not listed in the "foreign lobbyists 5 years ban" either. Either Trump didn't expect this level of entrenchment, or it's a tad early for him to make his move. (you can't remove a trench when some US citizens are busy rioting against you on charges of being a bigot-racist) Anyone who watched his personal way of reacting during the campaign or his personal twitter feud with a Saudi Prince knows this isn't his personal preference on how to do things. I'd wager he's trying to please some inside interest group.

[Basil II the B.S]

More like pawn of Zionists, but then again it's not like his position on Iran was ever different. I called it retarded then as I do now.

Nor approve the much more dangerous Saudis getting away with it. For now.

[Cyclops]

More like pawn of Zionists, but then again it's not like his position on Iran was ever different. I called it retarded then as I do now.

Nor approve the much more dangerous Saudis getting away with it. For now.

Look for me this isn't conclusive proof Trump is deadest out of control. Its a stupid clumsy step, and looks like he's just "erasing Obama's legacy" for the hell of it, but the US has a poor foreign policy record wherever their administrations turn their eye. Obama has some nasty messes to his name, even Clinton had his debacles in Somalia and the Balkans so this is standard issue US clumsiness, not a Bush II level catastrophe. Yet.

[swabian]

More like pawn of Zionists, but then again it's not like his position on Iran was ever different. I called it retarded then as I do now.

Was probably overheard due to all your cheering for Trump.

Nor approve the much more dangerous Saudis getting away with it. For now.

They aren't more dangerous, because they are counting on their Western partners. Their military is focused on small units and air superiority, which, linked to SA western ties, has a mainly defensive function. Iran's manpower vastly outnumbers SA's and with armored cavalry and Zulfiquar main battle tanks, they are equipped for invasion and occupation. Iran's political personality has been outrageously hostile towards the West, hostile towards her rivals in the Gulf region and especially hate filled towards Israel since 1979. If anyone still believes the Iranian dream about annihilating Israel is something like a clandestine expression of a grudge and not rally to be taken seriously, then they are simply delusional. Iran threatens to become a Middle Eastern superpower with an utterly hostile agenda, meanwhile Saudi arabia is tightly intertwined with Western interests.

Therefore i'd say the exact opposite: It is retarded to focus on Saudi Arabia instead of Iran. Trump is simply objectively right with this regard. The Iran deal is naive and nothing but an opportunity for decieving the US.

Have a closer look what Trump's sanctions actually entail and where he is coming from with this regard:

With Friday’s announcement that the U.S. Treasury Department will impose targeted sanctions against individuals and companies involved with Iran’s ballistic missile program, the Trump administration is actually implementing a bipartisan script followed by both George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Which is why the White House should soon be receiving support and endorsement from Democrats and Republicans alike.

Unfortunately:

(...), prior to today’s step, President Donald Trump’s instinct for diplomacy by insult has dominated his approach to international affairs. What else can you call it when a novice president starts off his tenure by alienating and undermining some of America’s closest friends and allies? And that’s exactly what happened as a result of Trump’s testy phone call with Australia’s prime minister, his spat with Mexico’s president that caused the cancellation of Enrique Peña Nieto’s scheduled trip to Washington, not to mention his inexplicable comment to Germany’s most important newspaper that he will treat Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russia’s strongman Vladimir Putin in precisely the same way.

http://www.politico.com/magazine/sto...on-iran-214737

Which is exactly one of the things you so gleefully appreciated, isn't it. You practically endorsed the guy for exactly the wrong reasons and once he does something actually sensible, namely basically proceeding with the policy of his predecessors, you say it's retarded and "JOOOS DIDDIT".

[Basil II the B.S]

Was probably overheard due to all your cheering for Trump.

The priorities in foreign policy were clear then as they are now: get the hell out of Syria, certainly not start a world war against Russia over it, avoid further regime changes. That package unfortunately includes ruining the Iranian deal.
The other package (Hillary) was basically the reverse of those positions, hence worse.
3 good and 1 bad beats 1 good and 3 bad.

They aren't more dangerous, because they are counting on their Western partners. Their military is focused on small units and air superiority, which, linked to SA western ties, has a mainly defensive function. Iran's manpower vastly outnumbers SA's and with armored cavalry and Zulfiquar main battle tanks, they are equipped for invasion and occupation. Iran's political personality has been outrageously hostile towards the West, hostile towards her rivals in the Gulf region and especially hate filled towards Israel since 1979. If anyone still believes the Iranian dream about annihilating Israel is something like a clandestine expression of a grudge and not rally to be taken seriously, then they are simply delusional. Iran threatens to become a Middle Eastern superpower with an utterly hostile agenda, meanwhile Saudi arabia is tightly intertwined with Western interests.

Therefore i'd say the exact opposite: It is retarded to focus on Saudi Arabia instead of Iran. Trump is simply objectively right with this regard. The Iran deal is naive and nothing but an opportunity for decieving the US.

Their danger doesn't come from the military. Saudi Arabia isn't going to start direct conflicts with the West, nor Iran will.
Saudi Arabia's danger comes from the fact that they fund mosques regularly caught hiring and recruiting terrorists, just like the fact that there's an immense flow of money from the Gulf towards Al Qaeda and Isis.
None of the recent attacks from Islamic terrorists was from Shias.
Iran is not a threat.


'Saudi-funded mosques breeding extremism'

https://www.thelocal.de/20151206/sau...remism-germany

Qatar Financing Wahhabi Islam in France, Italy, Ireland and Spain
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/2...i-islam-europe

While these are your allies or not a threat? Over 100$ bn to fund mosques with Salafist teachings around the world...

You mention Israel; not our battle. On Israel Europe should be as neutral as possible and it isn't certainly by closing both eyes on their constant expansion that we'll ever get close to solve problems. We have been doing that for decades, see how bad it is. We should support Israel's right to exist yes, not their occupation of the Golan heights (Syrian territory), further settlements in the West bank, then its annexation, then probably the annexation of Gaza and whatever else.
I'm not getting dragged into a nuclear war just because of Israel's grandeur's projects.

Have a closer look what Trump's sanctions actually entail and where he is coming from with this regard:

Unfortunately:

http://www.politico.com/magazine/sto...on-iran-214737

Which is exactly one of the things you so gleefully appreciated, isn't it. You practically endorsed the guy for exactly the wrong reasons and once he does something actually sensible, namely basically proceeding with the policy of his predecessors, you say it's retarded and "JOOOS DIDDIT".

Yeah Neocon shills from Politico suddely love Trump after having on him for the last year and half.
No thanks.

[bigdaddy1204]

Their danger doesn't come from the military. Saudi Arabia isn't going to start direct conflicts with the West, nor Iran will.
Saudi Arabia's danger comes from the fact that they fund mosques regularly caught hiring and recruiting terrorists, just like the fact that there's an immense flow of money from the Gulf towards Al Qaeda and Isis.
None of the recent attacks from Islamic terrorists was from Shias.
Iran is not a threat.


'Saudi-funded mosques breeding extremism'

https://www.thelocal.de/20151206/sau...remism-germany

Qatar Financing Wahhabi Islam in France, Italy, Ireland and Spain
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/2...i-islam-europe

While these are your allies or not a threat? Over 100$ bn to fund mosques with Salafist teachings around the world...

Yes, exactly.

It's great to see someone who understands the issues so clearly. That's exactly right - everything is as you say. I've been saying much the same thing for a long time. There does need to be a concerted effort by countries around the world to shut off the flow of funding to the Salafists, and to replace their dangerous ideology with something better. The world needs to stop those Salafist schools spreading wrong ideas. Funding should be provided for other more positive role models instead, such as Sufi instititions which teach peace and inner calm, and which recognise the achievements of the traditional arts such as poetry, music and dance. Down with this modernist Wahhabi plague and their 20th/21st century fanatacism. The traditional colourful, literate and erudite cultures of the ME had nothing to do with this block-headed anti-cultural affliction/scourge.

[Ἀπολλόδοτος Α΄ ὁ Σωτήρ]

Saudi Arabia's danger comes from the fact that they fund mosques regularly caught hiring and recruiting terrorists, just like the fact that there's an immense flow of money from the Gulf towards Al Qaeda and Isis.

Indeed. They've been funding extreme teachings for years in Kosovo, FYR Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and they've also promised "help" with EU refugee crisis by building more mosques for refugees which teach their "friendly towards the west" Islam. Personally I'm far more concerned by that than by Iranian tough guy act.

[bigdaddy1204]

Indeed. They've been funding extreme teachings for years in Kosovo, FYR Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and they've also promised "help" with EU refugee crisis by building more mosques for refugees which teach their "friendly towards the west" Islam. Personally I'm far more concerned by that than by Iranian tough guy act.

Anyone who thinks a Saudi-funded religious institution is going to produce people with an outlook favourable towards the west is gravely mistaken. They teach that music is haram. They teach that genders must be segregated. They teach that human beings cannot use their minds, nor exercise any independent reasoning. They teach that you must obey, or you are deserving of death or worse. Books and education are not allowed; associating with anyone outside the group is not allowed. Human happiness is not allowed. Everything is about fear, intimidation and merciless punishment of anyone who deviates even in the slightest. There is no nuance, no dialogue, no understanding. No peace, no mercy, no compassion. It's barbaric and inhuman.

Personally, I think Wahhabism in all its forms should be banned. In its place, Sufi or Shia institutions should be sponsored to teach the real religion. Many people would be discovering their religion for the first time. It would be quite a liberation and an Enlightenment at the same time.

[Incontinenta Buttox]

Was probably overheard due to all your cheering for Trump.


They aren't more dangerous, because they are counting on their Western partners. Their military is focused on small units and air superiority, which, linked to SA western ties, has a mainly defensive function. Iran's manpower vastly outnumbers SA's and with armored cavalry and Zulfiquar main battle tanks, they are equipped for invasion and occupation. Iran's political personality has been outrageously hostile towards the West, hostile towards her rivals in the Gulf region and especially hate filled towards Israel since 1979. If anyone still believes the Iranian dream about annihilating Israel is something like a clandestine expression of a grudge and not rally to be taken seriously, then they are simply delusional. Iran threatens to become a Middle Eastern superpower with an utterly hostile agenda, meanwhile Saudi arabia is tightly intertwined with Western interests.

Therefore i'd say the exact opposite: It is retarded to focus on Saudi Arabia instead of Iran. Trump is simply objectively right with this regard. The Iran deal is naive and nothing but an opportunity for decieving the US.

Have a closer look what Trump's sanctions actually entail and where he is coming from with this regard:



Unfortunately:



http://www.politico.com/magazine/sto...on-iran-214737

Which is exactly one of the things you so gleefully appreciated, isn't it. You practically endorsed the guy for exactly the wrong reasons and once he does something actually sensible, namely basically proceeding with the policy of his predecessors, you say it's retarded and "JOOOS DIDDIT".

Sorry. It's not Iran that is funding and promoting jihadi terrorism, and the islamisation of Europe. It's the Saudi's, they are far more dangerous.