Published on Jan 13, 2014
January 12, 2014 MSNBC News
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White House Punishes More Firms Over Iran Sanctions
By DAVID E. SANGER and MICHAEL R. GORDON
Published: December 12, 2013
WASHINGTON — Under pressure from Congress to demonstrate that it is not easing up on sanctions on Iran’s oil sector or on its nuclear and missile programs, the Obama administration on Thursday announced an expanded list of companies and individuals that it said it would target to block their trading activities around the world.
Among the newly penalized companies is a Singapore-based firm called Mid Oil Asia, which is accused of helping the National Iranian Tanker Company make payments for services through money transfers that made no mention of the vessels that were aided, or their Iranian ownership. Another Singapore company, Singa Tankers, is accused of helping Iran make “urgent payments.” The location of both companies is notable because Singapore often prides itself on running a carefully regulated shipping and banking system.
Five companies are accused of helping Iran’s nuclear and missile program, including an Iranian firm, the Eyvaz Technic Manufacturing Company, that the United States said had procured some of the most sensitive and hard-to-build components for Iran’s nuclear centrifuges. The centrifuges are the machines that, spinning at supersonic speeds, enrich uranium; over the years the United States has sought to undermine the effort with sanctions, faulty parts and cyberattacks.
Another firm is accused of helping Iran obtain components for its heavy-water reactor facility, which officials fear will ultimately give Iran another pathway to a bomb capability, using plutonium.
The administration’s announcement of its enforcement actions appeared to be timed to set the stage for a Senate Banking Committee hearing on the Iran nuclear talks and the United States sanctions policy on Thursday morning.
Wendy R. Sherman, the senior State Department official who led the American delegation at the nuclear talks with Iran, and David S. Cohen, the senior Treasury Department official who oversees the enforcement of sanctions on Iran, testified to the panel.
The aim of the interim agreement that was reached last month in Geneva is to freeze much of Iran’s nuclear program for six months so that international negotiators can pursue a more comprehensive accord.
That interim agreement, however, has not yet formally gone into effect. Ms. Sherman said that the precise start date was being taken up in technical talks, but that the agreement should start to take effect in the next several weeks.
The interim agreement can also be extended for an additional six months by mutual consent if negotiators need more time to pursue a follow-on agreement.
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Clock ticking on Iran talks, possible further U.S. sanctions
- NEW: President Obama says “now is not the time for new sanctions”
- Iran to limit its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief starting January 20
- Talks will continue on a broader deal to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons
- A bipartisan proposal in Congress calls for imposing new conditional sanctions on Iran
Washington (CNN) — The clock is ticking on an interim nuclear deal with Iran, as well as efforts in Congress to pass new sanctions for greater leverage in global negotiations on a comprehensive accord.
Sunday’s announcement that a six-month interim agreement formally begins on January 20 means that Iran must dismantle or freeze some of its nuclear program and open it to more international inspections in return for limited relief from crippling international sanctions.
Assuming all goes as planned, further negotiations between Iran and the United States, France, Russia, China, Great Britain and Germany will seek a broader agreement intended to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.
Meanwhile, pro-Israel members of Congress are seeking additional sanctions against Iran that would take effect if the talks break down.
Israel considers Iran’s potential nuclear capability an existential threat, and has made clear it would attack militarily if it believed Tehran could develop such weapons of mass destruction.
The question is whether the steps Iran is taking under the interim deal will blunt or bolster the congressional push for more sanctions.
President Barack Obama warns that approving new sanctions legislation now would undermine the talks, and he has promised to veto such a measure if it came to his desk.
“Now is not time for new sanctions,” Obama told reporters on Monday.
He warned the continuing negotiations with Iran would be “difficult” and “challenging,” adding that “ultimately this is how diplomacy should work.”
A bipartisan proposal that would impose new U.S. sanctions — but put off implementing them to allow time for negotiations to continue — has the support of 59 Senators so far, a senior Senate aide told CNN last week.
According to the aide, the informal count for the measure introduced by Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Republican Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois surpasses 75 votes — more than enough for the Democratic-led Senate to override the promised presidential veto.
It takes a two-thirds majority of both the House and Senate to approve a law over a president’s objection. The GOP-led House would have a much easier time of reaching that threshold.
The Obama administration argues the six-month interim deal includes sufficient safeguards in the form of new compliance verification by the U.N. nuclear energy watchdog — the International Atomic Energy Agency — to make further sanctions unnecessary at this time.
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