"European Union fails to agree on Iranian oil embargo; But new sanctions are put into place there and in Syria" December 02, 2011|By Don Melvin and Raf Casert, Associated Press
BRUSSELS - European Union foreign ministers failed yesterday to reach an agreement to impose an oil embargo against Iran - a measure that some argued would have choked off funding for Iran’s alleged program to develop nuclear weapons.
Related: Israeli Oil Shipments Exempt From Iran Sanctions
Amazing, isn't it?
But the ministers, incensed by the attack Tuesday by an angry mob on the British embassy in Tehran, did impose a new round of sanctions targeting dozens of people, groups, and businesses in the country.
See: Iranian Beef With Britain
The ministers also imposed new sanctions on Syrian individuals and businesses in hope of pressuring the regime there to halt its deadly crackdown on antigovernment protests....
Foreign Minister Alain Juppe of France said that Greece, which relies on Iranian oil, had objected to a ban on buying it. But he said work toward an embargo will continue.
“Greece has put forward a number of reservations,’’ Juppe said. “We have to take that into account. We have to see with our partners that the cuts can be compensated by the increase of production in other countries. It is very possible.’’
Iran has denied it is pursuing nuclear weapons. The attack on the British embassy is believed to have begun as a state-approved protest over Western sanctions linked to the country’s nuclear program.
Britain pulled its diplomats out of Iran after its embassy was stormed. Germany, France, and the Netherlands have recalled their ambassadors in solidarity.
With regard to Syria, the statement said the EU is extremely worried about the deteriorating living conditions of the Syrian people....
The White House welcomed the sanctions on both Iran and Syria, saying in a statement that it applauded “the EU’s determination to pressure these regimes to end their unacceptable actions, as well as its readiness to consider further steps going forward.’’
So when does the bombing begin?
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Related: Timing of EU Oil Embargo on Iran Still in Question
Why?
"Economic concerns part of Iran debate; Nuclear fears persist alongside fragile markets" November 10, 2011|By Brian Murphy, Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - With Iran angrily defiant about a UN report accusing it of developing nuclear weapons, Western powers and allies faced complicated questions yesterday on how to further tighten pressure on the oil giant without shaking the fragile world economy.
The path toward possible new sanctions also quickly confronted a huge roadblock as Iranian ally Russia said it would oppose any new measures in the UN Security Council and rejected any military options as risking “grave consequences’’ to global security.
The Russians are sending the message that any attack on Iran will be WWIII -- and maybe that is just what some people want.
The sharp pushback reflects the increasing difficulties for Western leaders to find ways to rattle Iran. So far, four rounds of UN sanctions have apparently failed to stop secret nuclear tests that brought Iran to the brink of mastering the process for atomic weapons, according to a UN watchdog agency report released Tuesday.
That last sentence is such a distortion and lie, as if Iran could have a bomb ready tomorrow.
So when is the false flag, AmeriKan media, or will you only know when the government hands you the script for the day?
Iran says the evidence in the report is baseless and that its nuclear program is only for energy and research.
The two opposing narratives were on vivid display yesterday.
In a speech broadcast live on Iranian TV, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed that Iran won’t retreat “one iota’’ from its nuclear ambitions, which include the process to enrich uranium.
Yeah, they have the legal right under the NPT; in fact, the West ought to be helping them.
About the same time in Paris, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said the world cannot accept a nuclear-armed Iran and pledged that France would support boosting sanctions to an “unprecedented scale’’ if Iran stonewalls investigations.
Good thing they are not building one.
Israel, meanwhile, called on the world to stop Iran’s nuclear program but did not repeat its warnings of a military option.
They already said they wouldn't tell anyone even if they were going.
“There is lots of talk about how to slap new punishments on Iran,’’ said Patrick Clawson, deputy director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. “Where it would hurt is oil. That, however, is a tough call with the world economy teetering.’’
Related: Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Iran’s oil exports - among the biggest in OPEC - are undoubtedly the Islamic Republic’s most vulnerable spot as its key revenue source, but they also represent a possible no-go zone for new sanctions.
“You’d want to impose the last big sanction on Iran to cut the revenue once and for all, but there would be detrimental consequences’’ by driving up oil prices and rattling world financial markets already uneasy over Europe’s debt crisis, said Jamie Webster, a senior analyst at the Washington-based consultants PFC Energy.
They don't care.
See: US Senate Cares More About Israel Than America
It's an open secret.
An indirect option is seeking US and European bans on dealings with Iran’s central bank, which handles the country’s oil commerce around the world. But that, too, could drive up oil prices - now approaching $100 per barrel - by raising the costs of transactions in Iran’s main markets in Europe and Asia, including Security Council member China, which depends on Iran for about 10 percent of its growing fuel needs.
“There seems to be no appetite from the Obama administration to do anything to drive oil prices higher,’’ said Helima Croft, a geopolitical analyst with Barclays Capital. “An oil embargo seems absolutely off the table.’’
Glad to hear it.
Oil prices jumped 25 percent from the middle of February to March, when a rebellion in Libya cut off that country’s 1.5 million barrels of daily oil exports. Iran currently produces about 3.6 million barrels per day, or about 5 percent of the world’s total output.
“Who else wants to do an embargo at this point?’’ Croft said. “Certainly not the big consuming countries. Do you think the Chinese want an embargo? Do you think the Indians want one, or the South Koreans? Absolutely not.’’
Only one nation really seems to want it, and they seem to have western governments by the balls.
China also has booming commercial ties with Iran - becoming Tehran’s main trading partner two years ago - and would likely oppose any tougher sanctions. Chinese officials did not publicly comment on the report by the International Atomic Energy Agency in a likely sign that it will wait for Washington and Moscow to signal their intentions.
Russia - which built Iran’s only major nuclear reactor - left no doubt where it stood.
It first shut the door on any new UN sanctions. Then Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov sharply condemned talk of possible military action on Iran as “illegitimate.’’
“It may have unpredictable and grave consequences in this already troubled and extremely explosive region, including for global security,’’ he told the Itar-Tass news agency.
“We hope that common sense will prevail. We hope for that very much, indeed.’’
As do I; however, I doubt it with the current crop of psychopathic neo-con globe-kickers.
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Update: Iran - Embargo failed, so go to plan B to start war for Israel!
Iran planning attacks on U.S. targets in Turkey
"Obviously Israel is not happy that the EU yanked the rug out from under the sanctions, which derailed the plan to provoke Iran over the Straight of Hormuz. So, Israel is trying to find some other means to trigger a war with Iran, a war that Americans children will be blown to bits trying to finish." -- Wake the Flock Up
