https://mobile.twitter.com/onlymehdi/status/385867659470200832/photo/1?screen_name=onlymehdi&
Foreign Affairs
This category relates to all Iranian Foreign Affairs related news
What an Iran Deal Would Look Like – TIME
Government Shutdown Empties Offices Enforcing Sanctions on Iran – The Daily Beast
Iran releases Indian oil tanker detained in August
Excerpts from the article “Iran releases Indian oil tanker detained in August” which appeared in Tehran Times on 07/09/2013
– Iran has released an Indian crude oil tanker that was detained last month over pollution concerns, an Indian shipping official said on Saturday, ending a dispute between the countries that have historically had strong trade ties, Reuters reported.
– The tanker is owned by the SCI and was carrying crude oil for Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd.
Reference: http://www.tehrantimes.com/politics/110560-iran-releases-indian-oil-tanker-detained-in-august
Iranian Officials at odds over Syria
Iranian Officials at odds over Syria
A good read for those who can understand Arabic. It is about the Iranian officials different opinions over Syria.
Iran Ruling In Europe Draws Anger From U.S.
Excerpts from the article “Iran Ruling In Europe Draws Anger From U.S.” which appeared in The New York Times on 06/09/2013
– In a setback for the United States’ attempts to isolate Iran, a European Union court threw out sanctions Friday on seven Iranian companies, including four banks, rejecting arguments that they were acting as front companies to bypass the punitive measures.
– The United States Treasury took the opposite tack on Friday, imposing restrictions on a network of six individuals and four businesses for links to oil sales.
– The ruling in Europe involved decisions by the union’s governments to freeze the accounts of companies, including Post Bank of Iran, the Iran Insurance Company, Good Luck Shipping and the Export Development Bank of Iran, from 2008 to 2011.
– The sanctions will remain in place for at least two months pending any appeal to the European Court of Justice, the bloc’s highest tribunal.
– The ruling in Brussels was the latest in a string of reversals for European Union governments, which have been reluctant to share evidence that they deem overly sensitive or that might compromise intelligence gathering.
Intercepts indicate IRGC Qods Force seeks response to US strikes in Syria
Excerpts from the article “Intercepts indicate IRGC Qods Force seeks response to US strikes in Syria” which appeared in Long War Journal website on 06/09/2013
– On Aug. 30, Threat Matrix noted that Iran and Hezbollah have threatened to retaliate if the US strikes sites linked to the Assad regime in Syria. On the same day, Reuters reported that an Iraqi Shiite militia group had declared that “it would attack U.S. interests in Iraq and the region if Washington carries out a military strike on Syria”.
– The Iranian message, intercepted in recent days, came from Qasem Soleimani, the head of Revolutionary Guards’ Qods Force, and went to Iranian-supported Shiite militia groups in Iraq, according to U.S. officials.
– US officials believe the US embassies in Baghdad and Beirut are likely targets for Iranian-backed terror groups. On Sept. 6, the US Embassy in Beirut announced it was drawing “down non-emergency personnel and family members from Embassy Beirut due to threats to U.S. Mission facilities and personnel.” Similarly, a travel warning issued by the State Department on Sept. 5 warned “U.S. citizens against all but essential travel to Iraq.”
– the Associated Press quoted Wathiq al Batat, the head of the Iranian-backed Mukhtar Army, as saying that his group was coordinating “with Iran” on potential attacks in response to US strikes in Syria. In February, the AP reported that the Mukhtar Army was advised by the IRGC Qods Force.
– With the Pentagon expanding its target list for strikes in Syria, and General Martin Dempsey referencing “initial” and “subsequent” target sets, one must wonder whether members of the IRGC and other Iranian entities extensively supporting the Assad regime will make one of the lists and get a taste of American cruise-missile diplomacy.
Treasury blacklists six who allegedly evaded Iran oil sanctions
Excerpts from the article “Treasury blacklists six who allegedly evaded Iran oil sanctions” which appeared in Iran Focus website, copied from The Wall Street Journal, on 06/09/2013
– The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday blacklisted six individuals and four businesses, citing their alleged involvement in an attempt to evade Iranian oil sanctions.
– The move targeted a network allegedly run by Iranian businessman Seyed Seyyedi, who is allegedly involved with a number of front companies that facilitate oil deals, the department said in a press release. Mr. Seyyedi allegedly also serves as managing director of Sima General Trading, which was added to the Office of Foreign Assets Control blacklist in March.
– The designations came the same day a European Union court ruled against the bloc’s freeze on seven companies allegedly linked to Iran’s nuclear program.
– Mr. Seyyedi allegedly used the firms United Arab Emirates-based KASB International LLC, Petro Royal FZE, and AA Energy FZCO, which were all blacklisted today, in schemes to evade oil sanctions, Treasury said.
– The agency also targeted others who allegedly represent the already-blacklisted National Iranian Oil Co., Iran’s state oil company, and its alleged front company Naftiran Intertrade Company Sarl in global oil deals. These individuals were U.K. citizen Mohammad Moinie, and Iranian nationals Reza Parsaei, Seyyed Mohamad Ali Khatibi Tabatabaei, Seyed Mahmoud Mohaddes and Mahmoud Ziracchian Zadeh. Also blacklisted was Swiss Management Services Sarl, based in Switzerland, which is allegedly used as a front company by Naftiran Intertrade Company Sarl.
Regarding Significant Reductions of Iranian Crude Oil Purchases
Excerpts from the article “Regarding Significant Reductions of Iranian Crude Oil Purchases” which appeared as a statement for Secretary John Kerry in the US Department of State website on 06/09/2013
– That is why today I am pleased to announce that, based on additional significant reductions in the volume of its crude oil purchases from Iran, Japan has again qualified for an exception to sanctions.
– Additionally, 10 European Union countries – Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom – have also qualified for a renewal of the NDAA exception because they have not purchased Iranian oil since July 1, 2012, pursuant to a decision made by the whole of the European Union in January 2012.
Reference: http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/09/213890.htm
A very good read for those who can read and understand arabic
A very good read for those who can read and understand arabic
It is a reading about the Iranian diplomatic moves under the table towards the security of Israel and the deal being made with the big powers, with the aid of the Swiss and Oman diplomats.
Blog-Iran 