U.S. could rethink Iran sanctions in light of coronavirus - Pompeo

By Arshad Mohammed and Humeyra Pamuk

 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attends a news conference at the State Department, in Washington, U.S., March 31, 2020. Andrew Harnik/ Pool via REUTERS

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held out the possibility on Tuesday that the United States may consider easing sanctions on Iran and other nations to help fight the coronavirus epidemic but gave no concrete sign it plans to do so.

 

The comments reflected a shift in tone by the U.S. State Department, which has come under withering criticism for its hard line toward sanctions relief even in the face of a call by the U.N. secretary-general to ease U.S. economic penalties.

 

Pompeo stressed that humanitarian supplies are exempt from sanctions Washington reimposed on Tehran after President Donald Trump abandoned Iran's 2015 multilateral deal to limit its nuclear program.

 

However, broader U.S. sanctions deter many firms from humanitarian trade with Iran, one of the nations hardest hit by the coronavirus epidemic.

 

Asked if there might come a point at which Washington might reevaluate its stance on easing sanctions, Pompeo told reporters: "We evaluate all of our policies constantly, so the answer is - would we ever rethink? - Of course."

 

Asked about such relief on March 20, Pompeo simply said U.S. sanctions do not apply to medical and other humanitarian goods.

 

Washington is pursuing a "maximum pressure" policy to try to force Tehran to curb its nuclear, missile and regional activities.

 

Iran has accused the United States of "medical terror," prompting Pompeo's spokeswoman, Morgan Ortagus, on Monday to tweet: "Stop lying. ... It's not the sanctions. It's the regime."

 

France, Germany and Britain have exported medical goods to Iran in the first transaction under a trade mechanism set up to barter humanitarian goods and food, Germany said.

 

Jon Alterman, a Middle East analyst at Washington's CSIS think tank, said Pompeo's shift in tone might be a response to the European move.

 

"There is an Iranian effort to peel off Europe ... Holding open the possibility of reconsidering is an effort to keep Europe on side," he added, though he saw little chance of a U.S. policy shift. "In the current environment, the chances are very low, but the environment keeps changing."

 

Pompeo has been sharply criticized for the administration's stance on Iran sanctions. In recent weeks, the United States has repeatedly tightened sanctions on Iran, notably seeking to make it harder for it to export oil.

 

"Pompeo appears to view the epidemic as a handy means to compound 'maximum pressure,'" Washington Post columnist Jackson Diehl wrote on Sunday. "To what end?"

 

(Reporting by Arshad Mohammed and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Paul Simao and Cynthia Osterman)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-01

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How Trump has evolved as POTUS.

Before he manipulated people's lives to his personal means.

Now he manipulates people's deaths to the same end.

EU made its first sale to Iran yesterday to avoid sanctions via their INSTEX system......next step oil sales via INSTEX. Meaning maximum pressure on Pompeo's backside to et a war started asap.

The unjustified arrogance of Iran's leaders makes it difficult to sympathize with their problems.

Edited April 1, 20206 yr by kjun12

The pandemic provides an ideal excuse for both governments to reach a compromise without losing face.... Not going to happen, it seems.

1 hour ago, kjun12 said:

The unjustified arrogance of Iran's leaders makes it difficult to sympathize with their problems.

Whatever the arrogance of Iran's leader may be, maybe that makes it difficult for you. But since it's the Iranian people who are doing the suffering, it shouldn't be difficult for most of us.

Yeah, their leadership is terrible but whose isn't?  Speaking for myself, I've never met an Iranian I didn't like, in Iran or the US. I hope they find a way to ease restrictions, while at the same time giving support to opposition bodies. I don't see it happening under this regime, or a Biden regime, but I live in hope.

1 hour ago, kjun12 said:

The unjustified arrogance of Iran's leaders makes it difficult to sympathize with their problems.

The arrogance lies with the corporatocracy that

controls the US and many other countries that

bow to their power.

1 minute ago, talahtnut said:

The arrogance lies with the corporatocracy that

controls the US and many other countries that

bow to their power.

Ya think corporations are happy about these restrictions? Even more so now that the world is faced with the inevitability of a worldwise recession?

Very sensible humanitarian gesture by Trump, Iran will need a lot of supplies of many kinds.

 

Good call.

3 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

Ya think corporations are happy about these restrictions? Even more so now that the world is faced with the inevitability of a worldwise recession?

Yes they want a regime change, a US puppet

installed, so that they control Irans oil.

Same old thing going on in Venezuala now.

 

surprised that anti-US ol' China hasn't already jumped the gun, and onforwarded some of their mega caches of medical stuff (dragged from plentiful imperialist western countries) and beat their chests as 'saviours' and then they 'sell' the donated items to Iran

1 minute ago, sirineou said:

I am not in doubt. Neither is anyone who has studied recent history. 

 

I'm sure you're not. The Iran regime with their Death to Israel obsession are but innocent babes.

Anyway. I certainly support humanitarian support towards Iran or any country now, including to the USA. 

35 minutes ago, talahtnut said:

Yes they want a regime change, a US puppet

installed, so that they control Irans oil.

Same old thing going on in Venezuala now.

 

Ridiculous 

28 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I'm sure you're not. The Iran regime with their Death to Israel obsession are but innocent babes.

Anyway. I certainly support humanitarian support towards Iran or any country now, including to the USA. 

I made no value judgment simply a IMO accurate assessment. 

I agree with you, at this point Humanitarian support towards any country, including Iran is not only morally important, it is mutually beneficial. Unless this virus is brought under control everywhere in the world,it would simply be re introduced to the places that have.     

1 hour ago, bristolboy said:

Ya think corporations are happy about these restrictions? Even more so now that the world is faced with the inevitability of a worldwise recession?

US corporations can't really do business in these areas anyway, with the constraint of the corporate bribery laws (should they choose to follow it).  Except when it comes in the form of a weapons deal or something similar where the bribe is built in, say with perpetual hotel bookings for empty rooms..

With travel and trade between countries being what it is, viruses are no longer regional problems. The WHO needs to be reorganised and it's mandate readjusted to mount a coordinated reaction to these events .

I realise that there are sovereignty concerns that need to be addressed. But an event such as this can not be allowed to reoccur. If we are lucky to survive this with only short term damage, I don't think we will be so lucky the next time. 

1 hour ago, Ireland32 said:

Ridiculous 

The clue is in the OP:

 

Iran has accused the United States of "medical terror," prompting Pompeo's spokeswoman, Morgan Ortagus, on Monday to tweet: "Stop lying. ... It's not the sanctions. It's the regime."

Nobody in the world trusts Fat Mike.

 

 

18 hours ago, lannarebirth said:

Yeah, their leadership is terrible but whose isn't?  Speaking for myself, I've never met an Iranian I didn't like, in Iran or the US. I hope they find a way to ease restrictions, while at the same time giving support to opposition bodies. I don't see it happening under this regime, or a Biden regime, but I live in hope.

Biden is a far more reasonable man and he has a heart. Sanctions relief is the right thing to do. The people in Iran are decent people. They have awful leaders. So do we in the US and here In Thailand. It is what it is. Do not make the people suffer and die. That is inane and cruel. 

Off topic deflection posts and replies about Israel have been removed.