Trump says firms doing business in Iran to be barred from U.S. as sanctions hit

[webfact]

Trump says firms doing business in Iran to be barred from U.S. as sanctions hit

By Babak Dehghanpisheh and Peter Graff

 

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a Make America Great Again rally in Olentangy Orange High School in Lewis Center, OH, U.S., August 4, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis

 

BEIRUT/LONDON (Reuters) - Companies doing business with Iran will be barred from the United States, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, as new U.S. sanctions took effect despite pleas from Washington's allies.

 

Iran dismissed a last-minute offer from the Trump administration for talks, saying it could not negotiate while Washington had reneged on a 2015 deal to lift sanctions in return for curbs on Iran's nuclear programme.

 

Trump decided this year to pull out of the agreement, ignoring pleas from the other world powers that had co-sponsored the deal, including Washington's main European allies Britain, France and Germany, as well as Russia and China.

 

European countries, hoping to persuade Tehran to continue to respect the deal, have promised to try to lessen the blow of sanctions and to urge their firms not to pull out. But that has proven difficult: European companies have quit Iran, arguing that they cannot risk their U.S. business.

 

"These are the most biting sanctions ever imposed, and in November they ratchet up to yet another level. Anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with the United States. I am asking for WORLD PEACE, nothing less!" Trump tweeted on Tuesday.

 

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif criticized Trump's tweet as a tired cliche and denounced "US unilateralism."

"And it is not the first time that a warmonger claims he is waging war for 'world peace'," Zarif tweeted.

 

White House national security adviser John Bolton said on Monday Iran's only chance of escaping sanctions would be to take up an offer to negotiate with Trump for a tougher deal.

 

"If the ayatollahs want to get out from under the squeeze, they should come and sit down. The pressure will not relent while the negotiations go on," Bolton, one of the administration's main hawks on Iran, told Fox News.

 

On Tuesday, Bolton said the sanctions were already working, deterring European companies: “The European governments are still holding to the nuclear deal, but honestly their businesses are running from it as fast as they can so that the effect of the American sanctions really is proceeding regardless.”

 

Few American companies do much business in Iran so the impact of sanctions mainly stems from Washington's ability to block European and Asian firms from trading there.

 

Among large European companies that have suspended plans to invest in Iran are France's oil major Total and its big carmakers PSA and Renault.

 

"We have ceased our already restricted activities in Iran in accordance with the applicable sanctions", said German car and truck manufacturer Daimler.

 

REMOVE THE KNIFE

Washington accepts that Iran has complied with the terms of the 2015 deal reached under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, but says the agreement is flawed because it is not strict enough. Iran says it will continue to abide by the deal for now, if other countries can help protect it from the economic impact of Washington's decision to pull out.

 

Tuesday's sanctions target Iran's purchases of U.S. dollars, metals trading, coal, industrial software and its auto sector. Global oil prices rose on Tuesday on concern sanctions could cut world supply, although the toughest measures targeting Iran's oil exports do not take effect for four more months.

 

Global benchmark Brent crude oil futures were up $1 or 1.36 percent to $74.75 per barrel at 1823 GMT.

 

"It is a reality check that this is happening and that Iran's oil exports will be hurt when the oil sanctions hit it in November," chief commodities analyst at Commerzbank Bjarne Schieldrop said.

 

In a speech hours before the sanctions were due to take effect, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani rejected negotiations as long as Washington was no longer complying with the deal.

 

"If you stab someone with a knife and then you say you want talks, then the first thing you have to do is remove the knife," Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on state television.

 

"We are always in favour of diplomacy and talks ... But talks need honesty," Rouhani said.

 

Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi said Trump's withdrawal from the deal meant there was no point negotiating, since Washington had shown it did not abide by its commitments.

 

"And Iran, based on past experience, has no trust in negotiating with the American government."

 

The nuclear deal is closely associated in Iran with Rouhani, a relative moderate who won two landslide elections on promises to open up the economy to the outside world. European countries fear that by abandoning it, Washington could undermine Rouhani and strengthen the hand of his hardline opponents.

 

Britain, France, Germany and the EU as a bloc said in a joint statement on Monday: "We deeply regret the reimposition of sanctions by the U.S."

 

Since the sanctions were initially lifted two years ago, Iranian oil exports have risen. But many Iranians have yet to see major economic improvement, and the prospect that Washington would reimpose sanctions has helped drive a collapse in the value of Iran's currency this year, raising the cost of imports.

 

Iran's security forces have responded firmly to protests against rising prices. Iran this week made it easier to access foreign currency and said it was prosecuting an ex-central bank official for economic crimes.

 

"(Sanctions) will definitely make daily life harder for Iranians," said Saeed Leylaz, a Tehran-based economist and political analyst. "But if the government has a serious plan they can control the situation."

 

Iraq said it did not agree with the U.S. sanctions on its neighbour, but will abide by them to protect its own interests.

 

"As a matter of principle we are against sanctions in the region. Blockade and sanctions destroy societies and do not weaken regimes," Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday.

 

(Writing by Peter Graff and Mary Milliken; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Angus MacSwan and James Dalgleish)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-08-08

[zydeco]

Good for Trump. This is even better than applying tariffs to China. Just embargo trade with them. We'll either fight them economically now or militarily later. 

[JAG]

8 minutes ago, zydeco said:

Good for Trump. This is even better than applying tariffs to China. Just embargo trade with them. We'll either fight them economically now or militarily later. 

If the orange man carries on like this you will probably end up doing both. But don't count on the assistance of any sort of coalition... 

[candide]

This is not going to end up well for other countries. The USA do not care about oil prices because it can be self sufficient. All other countries will suffer from high oil prices.

[Roadman]

3 minutes ago, candide said:

This is not going to end up well for other countries. The USA do not care about oil prices because it can be self sufficient. All other countries will suffer from high oil prices.

You are assuming that all other countries are going to side with the US. I would not be so sure of that as Trump is firing of saunctions and tarrifs left right and centre that many will consider their other trading allies are  a better trade bet than the US. 

[zydeco]

34 minutes ago, JAG said:

If the orange man carries on like this you will probably end up doing both. But don't count on the assistance of any sort of coalition... 

If the rest of you want to be colonized and ruled over by the Communist totalitarians in China, so be it. Your choice. Get ready to work on your "social credit score" to see if you're eligible to ride on a train or plane. You're going to love your new world. 

[Emster23]

I wonder how Trump would react if another country told the US who they could and couldn't trade with?

[off road pat]

17 minutes ago, Emster23 said:

I wonder how Trump would react if another country told the US who they could and couldn't trade with?

Hmm,..could not happen, A bully is a Bully because he is the strongest. The rest of the world will find creative ways to circumvent those sanctions.!!! Trump is a simple soul without any deep thoughts about the reactions to his actions ! He is stupidly forcing China, Russia, Iran And more country's to unite even stronger than before !!!

[jackh]

2 hours ago, candide said:

This is not going to end up well for other countries. The USA do not care about oil prices because it can be self sufficient. All other countries will suffer from high oil prices.

Oh i see. Let's pay higher oil prices OR await nuclear destruction by a terrorist country. Man, that's a hard one. Gonna have to think about the answer.

Oh wait, I have a brain (non-democrat)!  I'll take higher oil prices.

[phantomfiddler]

I am with Trump on this one. Totally wrong to give a country billions of dollars to stop them from being naughty, like giving the school bully all your pocket money so he won,t beat on you.

[Jingthing]

Well, the squeeze is on. The "trump" regime says this isn't about pushing regime change in Iran but don't believe it. Bolton has been talking about that for years and recently did again to a group of supportive expat Iranians. Will it work? Got me. I doubt it. 

[zydeco]

1 hour ago, Emster23 said:

I wonder how Trump would react if another country told the US who they could and couldn't trade with?

Trump is not telling any country they cannot trade with Iran. But if they do, they cannot trade with the U.S.  Their choice, Iran or the U.S. 

[stevenl]

35 minutes ago, phantomfiddler said:

I am with Trump on this one. Totally wrong to give a country billions of dollars to stop them from being naughty, like giving the school bully all your pocket money so he won,t beat on you.

That old incorrect BS again. Nobody gave Iran any money.

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, stevenl said:

That old incorrect BS again. Nobody gave Iran any money.

It was unfreezing funds that they owned that had been frozen. I agree that is not giving. But the republican propagandists try to spin it that way. The Iran nuclear deal wasn't great but it was better than no deal.

[mtls2005]

So that $20 Billion Boeing deal goes poof?

 

Probably a good thing given they don't use steel, or Russian aluminum, or Russian Asbestos.

 

Time to build some coal-powered aeroplanes.

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

What a hypocrite...

 

Trump is pursuing a ginned up crusade against Iran, at the same time he's palling around with North Korea's dictator, and treating Russia's dictator as his lover.

 

Iran's not pure by any means, but come on, they're hardly the only bad actor country in the world, and the U.S. isn't imposing these same kinds of sanctions on other of the many reprehensible countries. So why single out Iran for this kind of "special" treatment.

 

Yes, by all means world businesses, Trump is saying, don't you dare do any business in Iran. But meanwhile, be my guest to come to Russia where my BFF Vlad will be happy to welcome you with open arms, and maybe we can even talk about building some condos in North Korea.

 

[sawadeeken]

2 hours ago, jackh said:

And just like California giving gang leaders $$ to promise not to kill anyone! Democratic logic at play.

Can you verify this for me......... I AM A CALIFORNIAN (I live there)..... and I've not heard of nonsence as this........  I Think IT IS BS..........

[Jingthing]

Why this is almost definitely an incredibly stupid and destructive move. I'll concede there is a teeny tiny chance it might work out. But worth the risk?

 

 

 

"So, with this one move, Trump has irritated the allies, opened a new avenue for Russian and Chinese influence in the Middle East, strengthened the hard-liners in Iran, and heightened the chances that they’ll revive Iran’s nuclear program—all for the sake of killing a deal that blocked this program for the next two decades, and in pursuit of the pipe dream, which has been punctured in so many other dark escapades in U.S. foreign policy, that ousting an unfriendly regime will bring to power a much friendlier one.

 

Further evidence that Trump’s vision of “America First” is, in fact, America Alone."

 

 

 

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/08/make-no-mistake-the-goal-of-trumps-iran-policy-is-regime-change.html

 

 

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sawadeeken]

1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

What a hypocrite...

 

Trump is pursuing a ginned up crusade against Iran, at the same time he's palling around with North Korea's dictator, and treating Russia's dictator as his lover.

 

Iran's not pure by any means, but come on, they're hardly the only bad actor country in the world, and the U.S. isn't imposing these same kinds of sanctions on other of the many reprehensible countries. So why single out Iran for this kind of "special" treatment.

 

Yes, by all means world businesses, Trump is saying, don't you dare do any business in Iran. But meanwhile, be my guest to come to Russia where my BFF Vlad will be happy to welcome you with open arms, and maybe we can even talk about building some condos in North Korea.

 

Don't you know what is happening ????????

Iran is making threats agains't the US (and Isreal and other allies) with their Nuclear weapons... And 'Threats' of closing or blockadeing the shipping lanes that world oil supplies travel.... (and they are basically muslim driven).........

EITHER YOU ARE WITH US OR YOU ARE AGAINS'T US........

I'm not a 'Trump' fan but I back him for the 'one thing' that he don't like muslims and don't want more of them within our borders......... After seeing how 'they' don't want to blend with other societies, but want to live by their own rules... In other countries.... and eventually try to convert all the other countries to 'their beliefs' .......

NO THANKS..... I DON"T want to worship 'allah'...... I like the freedom of choice I have now in the USA........

I've been to 91 countries in this world and won't give up my USA citizenship (or passport) for any of them.... (Especially a n 'islamic' state where 'Soi Dogs' and women are treated equally)..... You can relocate to these 'Islamic' countries (I won't miss you) but NO-WAY do I want Iran and some other Islamic countries to have any effect on MY USA....

I am with Trump on this ONE faction.......

[Tug]

Did Putin give Donald permission to take this stance?maby they want war lure us in 1 nuke then game over for us and trump is dumb enough to fall into that trap.iran has many years experience in diplomacy trump none just a shallow bulley not looking good for peace this course will inflame radical Islam not good

[jenny2017]

Seeing his smacky face alone was reason enough not to read the article. 

[Morch]

6 hours ago, Roadman said:

You are assuming that all other countries are going to side with the US. I would not be so sure of that as Trump is firing of saunctions and tarrifs left right and centre that many will consider their other trading allies are  a better trade bet than the US. 

 

It's not so much a question of "siding with the US", but more of not effectively opposing it. 

[Enoon]

7 hours ago, zydeco said:

Good for Trump. This is even better than applying tariffs to China. Just embargo trade with them. We'll either fight them economically now or militarily later. 

 

" Croeusus......was the King of Lydia, a country in western Asia Minor........ from 560-547 BCE and was so wealthy that the old expression "as rich as Croesus" originates in reference to him"

 

"He sent to the great Oracle at Delphi to know whether he should go to war against the Persian Empire and the oracle replied: "If Croesus goes to war he will destroy a great empire. Pleased by this answer, Croesus made his necessary alliances and preparations and went out to meet the Persian army at the Halys River "

 

The oracle was correct.

 

Croesus, by his actions, did destroy a great Empire.

 

Croesus - Ancient History Encyclopedia

 

 

 

[Morch]

5 hours ago, Emster23 said:

I wonder how Trump would react if another country told the US who they could and couldn't trade with?

 

The US isn't telling countries they can't trade with Iran - but that if they do trade with Iran, they can't trade with the US. Not the same thing. As for "another country" - any candidates? Like it or not, the US is in a position to carry out such moves on its own. Other nations, not so much.

[Odysseus123]

8 minutes ago, jenny2017 said:

Seeing his smacky face alone was reason enough not to read the article. 

Agreed.

[Morch]

5 hours ago, off road pat said:

Hmm,..could not happen, A bully is a Bully because he is the strongest. The rest of the world will find creative ways to circumvent those sanctions.!!! Trump is a simple soul without any deep thoughts about the reactions to his actions ! He is stupidly forcing China, Russia, Iran And more country's to unite even stronger than before !!!

 

Only there isn't all that much "uniting" going on. Divisions and distrust among other players pretty much overrule an effective, well-coordinated resistance.

[zydeco]

4 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

" Croeusus......was the King of Lydia, a country in western Asia Minor........ from 560-547 BCE and was so wealthy that the old expression "as rich as Croesus" originates in reference to him"

 

"He sent to the great Oracle at Delphi to know whether he should go to war against the Persian Empire and the oracle replied: "If Croesus goes to war he will destroy a great empire."

 

The oracle was correct.

 

Croesus, by his actions, did destroy a great Empire.

 

Croesus - Ancient History Encyclopedia

 

 

 

Okay, I'll put you down in the pro Communist China dictatorship and pro Iranian Theocracy column. 

[Morch]

4 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Well, the squeeze is on. The "trump" regime says this isn't about pushing regime change in Iran but don't believe it. Bolton has been talking about that for years and recently did again to a group of supportive expat Iranians. Will it work? Got me. I doubt it. 

 

I don't think that the "Boltons" stopped fantasizing about regime change. But that said, the more opportunist and PR aware elements might be open for something that falls short of the extreme version. Something that can be marketed as a success, without the inevitable complications.

 

[Morch]

2 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

What a hypocrite...

 

Trump is pursuing a ginned up crusade against Iran, at the same time he's palling around with North Korea's dictator, and treating Russia's dictator as his lover.

 

Iran's not pure by any means, but come on, they're hardly the only bad actor country in the world, and the U.S. isn't imposing these same kinds of sanctions on other of the many reprehensible countries. So why single out Iran for this kind of "special" treatment.

 

Yes, by all means world businesses, Trump is saying, don't you dare do any business in Iran. But meanwhile, be my guest to come to Russia where my BFF Vlad will be happy to welcome you with open arms, and maybe we can even talk about building some condos in North Korea.

 

 

And given the right circumstances, he'll sit down with these guys as well. Tell everyone they'll have a great deal, great relationship and what wonderful people they are. Just so long as he can sell it to his base as Winning.

 

Iran isn't "singled out", nor are Iran-US relations something created by Trump. Unless mistaken Russia is under sanctions as well, though not of Trump's making.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

55 minutes ago, sawadeeken said:

Don't you know what is happening ????????

 

 

Now that you've delivered your anti-Muslim rant....

 

You might consider that all of this Iranian rhetoric lately has come only AFTER Trump unilaterally decided to withdraw the U.S. from the international nuclear weapons accord that had been reached with Iran, and which Iran was honoring/abiding by, according to most accounts. And then begin imposing additional U.S. sanctions against Iran.  What kind of message does that send re the U.S. and honoring its diplomatic commitments?

 

None of the other international participants to that agreement have gone on the war path against Iran -- only Trump and Bolton and Co.

 

You want to talk about nuclear weapons threats?  It wasn't Iran, but instead, North Korea that's been undertaking major nuclear weapons tests and provocative missile launches in recent years. And yet there's Trump palling around with dictator Kim and later (totally falsely) asserting that North Korea was no longer a nuclear threat.

 

You're drinking the right-wing anti-Muslim war mongering Kool-aid.