US Rejects Israeli Complaints, Insists Sanctions Really Hurting Iran
State Dept. Says Sanctions Must Be 'Gradual' to Avoid High Oil Prices
The US has rejected growing condemnations from the Israeli government for not imposing even wider and more hostile sanctions on Iran. A State Dept. official said the sanctions already in place are in fact devastating the Iranian economy.
The State Department also defended its gradual implementation of a full scale embargo on Iranian oil, insisting it needs to make the changes gradual to avoid a jump in oil prices.
The Obama Administration went on to say that it expects the sanctions to cripple the Iranian central bank within the next two months. It’s also believed that countries will replace their oil supply from Iran with oil from serendipitously and recently regime-changed Libya.
The European Union has also recently been discussing new sanctions on Iranian oil, but the decision has been forestalled amid concerns that the oil price in Europe would rise significantly with the move and that countries like Greece would see their already floundering economies damaged.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
- Centrifuge Glitch Fuels Latest Iran Scare Stories - May 25th, 2012
- Iraq MPs Push Return to Saddam-Era Conscription Laws - May 25th, 2012
- US Negotiator on Iran to 'Reaffirm Our Unshakeable Commitment to Israel' - May 25th, 2012
- UN: Syria Bombings Likely by 'Established Terrorist Groups' - May 25th, 2012
- Military to Avoid Embarrassing Pictures by Banning Photography - May 25th, 2012
Steve
January 19th, 2012 at 7:10 am
Now we see the real reason for the war in Libya
musings
January 19th, 2012 at 8:06 am
So here's the question: will gradual rises in oil prices be preferred to the gas lines of the Ford (I think) and Carter years? I'm thinking they can be more effectively hidden for a time, even though peoples' expenses for fuel will go up. So far, car-pooling is not the usual way of getting to work. The HOV lanes are so often wide open compared to creep and beep in the other lanes. Behavior has not yet adjusted.
skulz fontaine
January 19th, 2012 at 8:27 am
"…growing condemnations from the Israeli government…"
Poor Israel. Poor poor Israel. Can't get the Amerikans to blast Iran back to the stone age. Israel needs to STFU and get their apartheid house in order. You know, ease up on Palestinians and maybe stop murdering Americans in international waters and tear down that hideous Great Wall of Apartheid and QUIT WHINING! Probably shouldn't get into all that 'state-sponsored terrorism' that Israel is ever so fascinated with.
Roger Lafontaine
January 19th, 2012 at 8:40 am
The Israelis have their whips out on the Obama administration? It seems they're not cruel enough to suit them. But the Obama people claim they're hurting the Iranians to the pt. of 'crippling' them. Still not cruel enough? I guess war is the only answer then.
Brian
January 19th, 2012 at 10:06 am
Quite possible in retrospect. A chain of events set in motion which has played out like chess moves. And Obama was 'reluctantly' drawn into it? Chanellor Palpatine himself could not have done it any better.
MoT
January 19th, 2012 at 11:24 am
Why do WE have to impose sanctions? Let Israel do its own dirty work and see how it then goes. It's their "beef" with Iran, right?
Ubikwitus
January 19th, 2012 at 11:37 am
Great that the US is back 'on message' with gallant little Israel. Or at least following the lead of the magnificent Netanyahu who was trumpetting the effects of the sanctions in the Israeli press two days ago.
I wonder if the President is as aware as the Israeli MinDef that the 'only thing the Iranis have left is threats'? So, as far as them saying they'll close the Strait of Hormuz, let's not all be sniggling out loud together.
As Adolf once said of Russia, "The whole structure's rotten, like a house of cards. One good kick and it all comes tumbling down." He was the one who got the last big kick. It killed him. Let's hope we're smarter warfighters than he was.
RickR30
January 19th, 2012 at 11:53 am
Right, because gradual changes don't lead to jumps in oil prices… It gives the petrothieves the opportunity to not do one jump but multiple jumps in prices.
Wildey
January 19th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
What are we, the Zionist pet Bull Dog? Are our people suppose to put their fortunes and lives on the line for them? Why are we treating Iran the way we are? what have they done to us? I know what we did 1953 to Iran by the CIA installing the hated Pahlavi in power. They've got good reason to hate us but Ahmadinejed came to our when 9/11 occured. Ron Paul is the only one thats right. End military ti everybody, including the Zionists. Dictating terms to America. Treat AIPAC like the vermon they are. Get out of our country.
rosemerry
January 19th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Israel, of course ,matters more than all the rest of the world combined. iran is just a wicked disobedient child.
An interesting point I remember from studies in 1991, that if Carter's policies to reduce energy needs in the USA (by conservation measures and regulations) and thereby reduce oil imports had not been tossed ou by Reagan, the USA would not have needed to import any oil by 1990. I wonder how that would have affected the pretexts for the Gulf War to punish Iraq.
JOHN JOHN
January 19th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Did you ever think how better off the world would be with out Israel, especially America. Boy these people never stop. Almost all the problems lead to Israel! As far as the American politicians are concerned Israel is never wrong. They give us tha BS that Israel has a right to defend themselfs even when it is over kill. Until the US finally stands up to Isreael these problems will continue. Don't hold your breath while we are waiting!
rick
January 19th, 2012 at 5:44 pm
Phew. The sanctions ARE working and they ARE indeed destroying Iran's economy. Never mind how the 80 million Iranians might be affected, our main concern is calming mother israel's fears. What a slimeball we've become.
Ahura Mazda
January 19th, 2012 at 8:29 pm
666 reap what you sow Obama and Clinton, NWO Reap what you sow by 10 to the power of a gazillion.
andy
January 19th, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Because they control us.