Obama Seeks China ‘Exemption’ From Iran Sanctions

Move Outrages Japan, South Korea

The Obama Administration is reportedly pressing for a special exemption for China and other permanent members of the UN Security Council from the unilateral sanctions against Iran being pushed through Congress.

China in particular has a significant trading relationship with Iran, and has opposed international sanctions repeatedly. Key petrochemical companies in Britain and France could also be protected by this exemption as well, but China is the most controversial.

Particularly angered are key US allies South Korea and Japan, who would stand to lose considerable trading relationships with Iran to the sanctions and would not get the special exemption China would.

Congress is keen on pushing forward the sanctions, but the exemption will likely be a tough sell. Senators note that President Obama would under the existing bill already have the power to subjectively enforce the sanctions at any rate, and would likely shy away from taking the blame for watering them down.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.