Washington fires the 5. November, the next level of escalation in the conflict with Iran. New sanctions target Oil exports and the financial sector. Europe with the struggles against the measures.
What are the sanctions against Iran come into force?
From the 5. November goals of the U.S. coercive measures on the economic heart of the Islamic Republic of Iran: energy exports. Are prohibited, then all of the oil deals with Iranian Oil companies. Also all kind of insurance are prohibited from transporting oil. Furthermore, the already existing financial tightened sanctions further: Any and all transactions with the Central Bank of Iran and other Iranian banks are prohibited. US President, Donald Trump has referred to the sanctions as “the toughest sanctions of all time”. The Oil export of Iran should be pressed according to the will of the US government to Zero. Even if this should not succeed, any limitation on the Ölexports would be painful, with Around 80 per cent of the national revenue of Iran comes from oil sales. Again, since around 60 % of the Iranian budget is spent on the financing of state-owned enterprises and institutions, the country is extremely dependent on the revenues from Oil exports.
Watch the Video 02:27 live Now 02:27 Min. 
Share
U.S. sanctions hit Iran to the Mark
Send Facebook Twitter google+ Tumblr VZ Mr. Wong Xing Newsvine Digg
Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/37XjY
U.S. sanctions hit Iran to the Mark
What sanctions are already in force?
After the unilateral withdrawal of the USA from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, short-JCPOA, referred to the nuclear agreement at 8. May had set the United States, the partners of Iran two deadlines to get your business shut down: The first period of 60 days ended on 6. August. After that, the access to the US was blocked by the Iran-dollars. Also key industries such as the Iranian automobile or the carpet industry were put under sanctions. The sale of commercial aircraft or aircraft parts – previously significantly impeded – was entirely prohibited. The second period of 120 days to expire on 5. November.
What is the goal of the sanctions?
According to US government maximum pressure to “force” Iran to change its behavior. Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo has in a speech on 21. May a list of twelve demands presented, which need to be fulfilled from the US point of view, in order to escape the punitive measures. Iran to give up its missile program, the “support of terrorist groups in the Middle East end, including the Lebanese Hosbollah, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad”. The country should also pull all the troops under his command out of Syria and the Shiite militias in Iraq demobilize. The overthrow of the Iranian government is not officially a target of the sanctions. But Statements by the national security adviser, John Bolton, or of the Trump lawyer and former mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani, suggest that the destabilization of Iran and a regime change in Tehran would be quite desirable.
What is the response of the other partners in the nuclear agreement?
Both the European contract partner for JCPOA – Germany, France and England – as well as China and Russia have condemned the withdrawal of the United States. You want to hold on to the more than twelve years of negotiated nuclear agreement. The objective of the agreement would be reached to avert the risk of an Iranian Nuclear weapons and thus a nuclear Arms race in the Region. Iran’s behavior in the Region was never part of the agreement. Iran, too, wants to remain in the agreement. But only if he can continue to profit from the promised benefits of the agreement. The economic exchange of the before the conclusion of the nuclear agreement in 2015 of comprehensive sanctions weakened the country in the first place.
The International atomic energy Agency has consistently confirmed Iran’s compliance with all provisions of the JCPOA. So as not to try the parties to the contract continue to remain in circumvention of U.S. sanctions with Iran in the business.
The EU wants to keep the nuclear deal alive, even against the United States
Can defend the EU against unilateral U.S. sanctions?
The United States use its leading role on the financial markets and in comparison to the Iranian market, the overwhelming attractiveness of the US market as a lever for the enforcement of their political goals. More difficult measures directed against the de-facto regulation of European and international companies by Washington. At the end of September, the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on the sidelines of the UN has announced General Assembly the creation of a special Institution for the settlement of Iran-transactions, a so-called “Special-Purpose Vehicels”, in short “SPV”. The SPV should function as a kind of exchange. Claims of Iranian and European companies are to be allocated within this clearing house against each other. For example: oil Supplies against the textile machines. In the international financial markets, no money flows would be visible. This SVP will be open not only to EU States but also to other.
However, the SVP is not yet ready for use. It is not even clear where the Institution will be located. While in the case of the settlement of the EU authorities with a Wealth of applications, it’s common to hold back the European countries to the SPV. Probably out of concern to draw the wrath of Washington. On Mogherinis announcement, US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo had reacted very angry. He was “surprised and deeply disappointed,” said Pompeo at the end of September in New York. The SPV was “one of the counterproductive measures for regional and global security, one could think of.” Donald trump’s security adviser, John Bolton added menacingly, the United States would not allow “that our sanctions are being circumvented by the Europeans, or anybody else”.
US Secretary of state Pompeo criticized Europe’s plans to circumvent Iran sanctions
What brought about the sanctions so far?
The Iranian currency, the Rial, is in free fall and has lost this year already, over 70% of its value, the Inflation is galloping. Even now, the Iranian energy exports have fallen by about a third since its peak in June. The currently rising energy prices, painfully obvious, for example, of the tank, also have to do with the sanctions will be tightened. After a short spring, international investment in Iran, an Exodus of foreign companies. Also, many European companies have left the country from fear of loss of the very much more important US market. The French energy group Total on 20. August its withdrawal from a multi-billion dollar gas project. The German car manufacturer Daimler has withdrawn from Iran such as the French car maker PSA or Airbus. The German-Iranian trade, according to the conclusion of the nuclear agreement and the associated sanctions relief in 2017, to 3.3 billion euros, has collapsed after the withdrawal of the USA in may and June, to 20 percent. Out of fear of US sanctions, European banks are extremely cautious in the settlement of payments in Iran-business. The money transfer has already come largely to a Standstill, with major problems for small and medium-sized enterprises in Europe who would like to put their Iran business, and in the absence of the US business, no American sanctions have to be afraid of.
Imports of all kinds in Iran are extremely complicated. Even essential drugs are scarce and only to be massively increased prices available. Iran, however, has years of experience in dealing with sanctions and has announced the transition to an “economy of resistance”. Politically, the sanctions regime strengthens the ultra-conservative forces in Iran, which were already approaching critical of the West.
The withdrawal of the USA from the nuclear agreements and the unilaterally imposed coercive measures have deepened the rift between Europe and the USA. In a Central international issue, the Europeans are now, together with China and Russia against Washington.