%20kopya.jpg)
How will US Sanctions on Iran Affect the Region and the World?
- Kemal İnat
- 25 Nis 2019
- 2 dakikada okunur
Following the U.S. administration’s announcement of its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and decision to re-impose sanctions against Iran, the six-month waivers the U.S. granted to eight countries that buy Iranian oil, including Turkey, has expired. Everyone has so far wondered whether this six-month period would be extended or not. A possible extension decision was significant both for the Iranian economy, the global oil market and for the supply of oil to these eight countries. Finally, the Trump administration announced a few days ago that they will no longer grant exemption to any country in terms of importing oil from Iran within the goal of putting Iran’s oil sales to zero. This decision means that the countries in question might face sanctions if they continue buying oil from Iran as of May 2.
Many countries, especially China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, have reacted to this announcement. Some countries declared that they will not abide by the decision, while some others seek to obtain new exemptions by building closer ties with Washington before the period of waivers expires. If they abide by the decision, they will confront serious issues in the oil supply and refinery chain and become the leading countries mostly affected by the increase in oil prices. As expected, Iran, the main target of this decision, has harshly responded. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said that the increasing economic terrorism against Iran only shows the U.S.’ incapability, whereas Oil Minister Bijen Zengene said the decision will fail and Iran will continue exporting oil.
The ideological stance represented by hawkish politicians and bureaucrats in Washington now outweighs President Trump’s pragmatic approach that prioritizes U.S. economic interests.
Now, let’s take a look at how the Trump administration’s decision of not extending the exemptions was taken, what this decision means in terms of international law, its social impacts and possible consequences regarding international security. First of all, the U.S. administration’s negative decision that goes against the extension expectations of some countries must be read as a sign of the influence that hawkish politicians and bureaucrats have in Washington on the subject of Iran. The ideological stance represented by these bureaucrats and politicians, who are in close cooperation with the lobbies that target putting an end to the activities that disturb Israel and other U.S. allies in the Middle East and toppling the Mullah regime in Tehran as a result of putting Iran in a tight corner economically, outweighs the President Trump’s pragmatic approach that prioritizes the U.S. economic interests.
Devamını okuyun...