On Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said even if the US rejoins the Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, “hundreds” of sanctions would still remain on Iran, including Trump-era measures.
“I would anticipate that, even in the event of a return to compliance with the JCPOA, hundreds of sanctions remain in place, including sanctions imposed by the Trump administration,” Blinken told a Senate hearing.
Blinken’s remarks are just his latest bad faith comment about the indirect negotiations between the US and Iran that have been ongoing since April. Because the Biden administration refuses to lift all Trump-era sanctions, the talks are being dragged out.
Blinken and other Biden officials justify their refusal to lift all of Trump’s sanctions by claiming they will only lift measures that are “consistent” with the economic relief Iran expects from the JCPOA. “If they are not inconsistent with the JCPOA, they will remain unless and until Iran’s behavior changes,” Blinken said.
The Trump administration imposed an enormous number of sanctions on Iran. Some were implemented over Tehran’s nuclear program, while others were put in place over claims of “terrorism” and alleged human rights violations. From the start of negotiations, the Biden administration has been clear that it is not going to lift all human rights and terror sanctions.
One terror-related measure the Biden administration is reportedly unwilling to lift is the designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a “foreign terrorist organization.” But the IRGC designation is a sweeping measure, as it subjects current and former members of the military organization to US sanctions.
Keeping the IRGC designation would likely not be acceptable to Tehran, especially after the June presidential elections, when Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is expected to be replaced by a more hardline candidate.
Since the US is the party that violated the JCPOA in the first place, and Iran is still technically in compliance, Tehran is calling on Biden to lift all of Trump’s sanctions if he is serious about reviving the deal. The fact that Iran is negotiating at all is a major concession. But if the talks don’t go anywhere due to the US’s refusal to lift enough sanctions, the Biden administration will undoubtedly blame it on Iran.
Blame Iran? Sure, why not. But what is the objective of such stance? Iran will do as it deems best, as far as nuclear compliance goes. Or it may choose to abandon the Agreement nobody is following. Iran has a well defined Asian orientation. And the Gulf is no longer the contender for starting a war with Iran. US needs another war like a hole in the head.
And any such conflagration is far from guaranteeing success.
The fact that Israel is keen on pushing US into pursuing global dominance at all cost — does not make it realistic.
So, what is the point of refusing to really rejoin JCPOA, snd then victoriously blame Iran? It is not like US is itching to attack Iran.
Yawn.
While the situation is tragic, Iran is a warlike country manufacturing nuclear weapons and will use them as a cover for its conventional and terrorist armies.
“Iran is a warlike country manufacturing nuclear weapons”
It must be a clever country too, since the sum total of evidence publicly presented for the claim that they’re “manufacturing nuclear weapons” comes to zero, zip, zilch, nada, bupkes.
Tell our CIA that. The Pentagon and the CIA have concluded that Iran is no more nearer to get A bomb than it was ten years ago, and, were they to get the bomb it would be for defense.
Iran has not developed a missile to deliver any bomb.
Your post is well spoken from a kid in university in Tel Aviv.
They have IRBM’s-nuff said.
You do understand the difference between a missile and a warhead, right?
If those IRBMs are so scary, why does the Israeli regime seem hell-bent on goading the Iranians into using them?
You’re like a walking, talking neocon billboard. Meanwhile the country in the region that is actually warlike and actually has manufactured hundreds of nukes just bombed their outdoor prison yet once again.
Like Iran’s pest Hezboalah and Hamas are peaceful.
Israel is rightly worried that Hezbollah will kick the IDF’s ass again. Nevertheless, this is “whataboutism”, as it has nothing to do with Iran’s compliance with NPT and JPCOA.
You forgot the Houthi’s and Syria. All this while being economically destroyed by our “maximum pressure campaign”. More neocon blather exaggerating Iran’s capabilities and influence.
I guess Biden lied, and he really does not mean to return to the Iran Deal.
A big surprises is brewing, because China and Russia are going to return to it anyway. They are leaving the dollar exchange mechanism behind anyway, so they can easily do this too.
Almost as bad as Trump, or worse is my first “off the cuff” response without giving it too much thought.. Gotta love how the war parties harrangue Iran with ‘why can’t they behave like a “Normal” country, bUT we flex our bully muscle to harras and impede Iran whenever it fancies the sick minds in the imperial city of hubris and hypocrisy. Say it ain’t so, Joe. lLike a schmo… We wish for grown ups and we get stooges… WTF..!!!!
This doesn’t look like the JPCOA will be renewed.
America doesn’t need to lift their domestic sanctions. Those are just a feature of their domestic politics, it is entirely America’s choice if they want to trade with Iran or not. They only need to lift their extraterritorial sanctions. Stopping Iran from trading with other countries is basically an act of war, and Iran obviously isn’t going to tolerate it.
As always with Biden, the big splashy headlines are a lot less impressive, once you you read the fine print.
As always with Biden, the big splashy headlines are a lot less impressive, once you you read the fine print.
I might suggest to Iran’s leaders that if a few oil tankers of Iranian origin had made their way to America within the last six months, that operation of good will ought to be summarily cancelled.
The sanctions will have permanency until the dollar dies. That could be anywhere between three months to three years. As far as Washington is concerned, Iran’s US commercial banks deposits have the digital certainty of an “accidental item deletion.”
With its loyal friends and success against US-introduced domestic terrorism (MEK), Iran will find ways to make-do.
“If they are not inconsistent with the JCPOA, they will remain unless and until Iran’s behavior changes,” Blinken said.
This coming from a man who just visited Egypt’s dictator. No mention of them changing their behavior. Play nice with Israel and behavior becomes irrelevant.
“It was an awkward position for Blinken. Human rights, he has said repeatedly, are at the core of Biden-era foreign policy — and human rights are not something Sisi regards favorably. He jails and tortures dissidents, journalists and others, activists say, and has been accused of repeatedly ordering deadly fire on peaceful demonstrators.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/trumps-favorite-dictator-is-now-bidens-burden/ar-AAKRBOR?li=BBnb7Kz
Egypt tried “democracy” and they got a Muslim Brotherhood jihadi nightmare. Sisi and the military, acting with decisiveness and exemplary governance, put an end to that abomination. The current so-called “human rights abuses” are actually the suppression of terrorism needed to keeps Egypt stable.
The Western ruling elite keep the proles worshipping at the “Alter of Sacred Democracy” even as we witness with irrefutable clarity — “lying eyes”? — the subversion-by-money of Western “liberal democracies” and the “disincentivizing” by jackboot power of any attempt at authentic democracy or independent sovereignty in the imperial provinces.
You and I wars, are on the same side, but let the scales at last fall from your eyes over the manipulation of the gullible with the religion of (fake) “democracy”.
I was trying to make a point of Blinken’s/US hypocrisy only to find out Sisi was only imprisoning terrorists.
“This coming from a man who just visited Egypt’s dictator”.
“This coming from a man who just visited the other gatekeeper of the open air prison of the Palestinians.” fify
The US. one must grant. has been consistent. The multitude of sanctions imposed on Israel for the vile human rights abuses on the Palestinians are hurting that country beyond measure.
Great one!
Waste of time…. The new Iran government will immediately put a stop this nonsense talks…!
“Nothing fundamental is gonna change” J Biden POTUS Candidate 2020
Really so we don’t negotiate or talk to our enemies. Diplomacy doesn’t exist in America ‘s mindset? Why is that our current reality? We need to look at why!
Unfortunately Bush Sr, Clinton, Bush Jr, Obama, Trump, and Biden are all the same lame excuses we have had as politicians for the past 40 years that have repeatedly failed our nation.
America is a corporacy, the founding principles embodied in our constitution have been trashed by our two major political parties for the sake of the elite’s corporate class at the expense of the American middle and working classes.
The only difference between Democrats and Republicans is that the Dems use lube before they screw you. Why don’t you all enlighten yourself and listen to a real American patriot like Ron Paul, google The Liberty Report.