Since the US withdraw from the P5+1 nuclear deal, a flurry of sanctions and threats of sanctions have been pushed to try to intimidate the international community out of trading with Iran. EU nations, particularly Germany, France, and Britain, have tried to put measures in place to protect their companies, and assure them that it’s safe to trade.
So far, it’s not working. German companies were quickly looking for the exit when the US started threatening sanctions, and months later, there is no sign that companies are many more placate by EU assurances of protection.
From the day the US withdrew, there was always the expectation that, with pretty much the entire rest of the world still supporting the nuclear deal, there would be substantial incentive to just ignore the US threats. Companies, however, clearly have doubts about how deep those promises of protection would go if push came to shove.
Interestingly, the EU faced a very similar effort at the US forcing them to cut off business in Cuba, a nation with much less lucrative business ties, and the EU very quickly and successfully forced the US to back down. Though it was widely assumed the EU would follow the same tack on Iran, that so far hasn’t happened, and companies don’t seem to be waiting to see if it ever does.
The Iranian leadership is very weak. They need to withdraw from the nuclear deal and proceed promptly to create a nuclear weapon to protect themselves.
Iran leadership has stood up US-led military invasion (Iraq), terrorism and economic sanctions for decades, and come out a winner (Syria).
It’s okay, China will move in with auto production because Iran needs more cars.
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In the words of noted Clintonista pseudo-ambassador, Victoria Nuland, “F-ck the EU!” Why is Iran even bothering with them? Russia and China are more than willing to deal, and will subvert any sanctions the USA wants to impose.
One reason Iran is bothering with EU is to rupture the US-EU alliance which exists despite Nuland.
The “US-EU alliance” is hanging by a thread, Don. If Trump makes moves on Iran or Syria in support of Israel, it’s finished. Iran just has to sit back and smile.
The thread is more like a noose if the EU slips its leash (to mix a metaphor) because the US controls world banking, which in turn controls their (and our) financial lives. But Iran is giving it a go, good for them.
I think you got that wrong, Don. The banksters control the USA, not the other way around.
The “controllers” (sanctioners) are US government. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the US Department of the Treasury administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy. This is what Europe fears.
Then why did a French frigate (along with Israeli F16s) attack Syria recently? One of the missiles came from France.
Rothschild bankster Macron fights for Israel, not the EU. He’s Trump’s “little buddy” all the way.
What I said before my comment was blocked… Why?
Of course, companies are “persons” and are far more important than ordinary humans like the rest of us.