Before the US-Israeli embargo of Iran came into effect on November 1st, EU officials had trumpeted their resolve to preserve guarantees made in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iran nuclear deal – by establishing a brand new framework which will allow EU-based firms to continue doing normal business with Iran.
TEHRAN, IRAN – The recent imposition of crippling sanctions against Iran by the United States government has made life increasingly difficult for everyday Iranians, as essential supplies are becoming more difficult to come by with each passing day. However, certain vulnerable groups, such as Iran’s cancer patients, are bearing the brunt of the burden caused by the sanctions, as the cost of the average cancer treatment has now doubled and the supply of crucial medication has dwindled to new, troubling lows.
PressTV Interview with Peter Koenig
Transcript
Background
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the new US sanctions against Tehran show that Washington has targeted ordinary people.
The Trump White House announced the restoration of sanctions against Iran, aimed at choking Tehran’s economy and, as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo noted, “depriving the regime of the revenues it uses to spread death and destruction around the world.”
Pomeo said that the sanctions are “aimed at fundamentally altering the behaviour of the Islamic Republic of Iran”.
Pompeo further added…
“Our ultimate aim is to compel Iran to permanently abandon its well-documented outlaw activities and behave as a normal country.”
Last week, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn the US embargo against Cuba. A total of 189 member-nations said Cuba did not deserve this embargo, which began in 1961 and has continued unabated to this day. Only two countries – the United States and Israel – voted against the motion. No country abstained.
Venezuela is looking to repatriate 14 tonnes of gold from the Bank of England as US-led sanctions target their international assets, Reuters has reported.
The move, which will bring around US $550 million of international reserves back under Caracas’ control, was initiated two months ago by the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), according to an unnamed official source. No official statements have been made by either the BCV or the Bank of England, who cite client privacy rules for their silence.
This morning was reported:
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-11-05/watch-live-pompeo-announces-iran-sanctions-waivers
Watch Live: Pompeo Announces Iran Sanctions ‘Waivers’
Monday 5 November 2018 8:29AM
Update (8:40 am ET): The following countries will receive ‘temporary’ waivers excusing them from US sanctions on Iranian oil exports.
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Turkey
• Greece
• Japan
• China
• India
• Italy
On Monday, Washington re-imposed sanctions against Iran. Touted by U.S. President Donald Trump as the “strongest we’ve ever imposed,” the renewed sanctions expand the restrictions in effect prior to the 2015 nuclear deal.
As the United States launches direct attacks on Iran’s economy through these increased sanctions, Iran is resisting by vowing to continue selling oil on the international market regardless of the consequences.
