IRAN EXPANDS SANCTIONS ON U.S.
Emil Uliya, International Correspondent
July 13 2008
Tehran, Iran – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has made another bold proclamation against the United States. In a speech broadcast on Iranian television the outspoken leader, long at odds with the Bush administration, has stated that his country will not only continue its current set of sanctions against the US, but also expand them, potentially to the point of cancelling trade and co-operation between the two countries entirely.
“The United States has continued to be aggressive and malevolent towards Iran, the Iranian people, and our allies. This aggression is unacceptable and we must do what we can to fight this tyranny,” said Ahmadinejad, in part. “Our message to the American people is you do not have to choose the path of confrontation. We continue to be willing to talk, but if the United States and her allies choose to ignore our offers, we will have no choice but to intensify sanctions.
At odds is the continuing nuclear debate, with the Iran insisting that is has made full disclosure of its nuclear program and capabilities and that the United States must do the same in keeping with UN rulings.
“The United States continues to engage in deception and subterfuge. They have a moral and ethical responsibility to the world community to disclose their full nuclear program to the world,” said an Iranian Government official. “They must comply with the will of the world community as the Iranian government has done.”
Reactions to the speech were met with massive applause at the outdoor auditorium and have been repeatedly broadcast on Iranian television. The United States had little reaction to the speech, insisting that they have had full disclosure from day one.
“We continue to negotiate with the Iranian Government,” said White House Press Secretary Dana Perino. “The President is hopeful that we can come to some kind of meaningful resolution. But we will not bow to the whims and wills of a foreign government. We have a responsibility to do what we must for the good of the American people and the world.”
In addition to the currently imposed restrictions, Iran will begin freezing bank accounts and suspending shipments of a new raft of goods to the United States and allied countries, such as the European Union. Oil, though, seems to be off the table for the new restrictions, at least for now.
Oil of course is the big sticking point with Iran being one of the largest producers and the US being one of the largest consumers. In the end though, there may be too much money involved to put that particular product on the table for sanctions.
“No one wants to lose out on the money that revolves around oil,” said Scrape TV Middle East analyst David Gershwin. “Both sides must find a negotiated agreement on these other products, but no issue no matter how large or small is likely to stem the flow of oil. As for disclosure on arms, well, guess that’s just a matter of who you trust; the guys with thousands of bombs or the guys with none.”
We’re going to go with the guys with the bombs.
