Vol. 74/No. 27      July 19, 2010

On June 9 the UN Security Council adopted sanctions against Iran for the fourth time since 2006. The latest round calls for inspections of ship cargoes heading to or from Iran, measures against Iranian banks abroad with connections to nuclear or missile programs, and blacklisting of more Iranian companies. The sanctions came as Tehran continued to enrich uranium, a process needed to produce nuclear fuel that at higher levels can be used to make an atomic bomb. Washington contends Tehran plans to produce nuclear weapons. The Iranian government denies this.

The Security Council resolution bans sales of some weapons to Iran and urges governments to exercise vigilance when doing business with the Iran Central Bank or companies controlled by the Pasdaran, the Iranian military force that is dominant in the government.

On July 1 U.S. president Barack Obama signed into law further sanctions against Iran. “Obama said the new sanctions were the toughest ever passed by the U.S. Congress,” Reuters reported.

The new U.S. measures are mainly aimed at non-U.S. companies and banks. Firms that sell Iran more than $1 million in refined petroleum a year or do business with Iranian banks associated with the Pasdaran or Iran’s nuclear programs, could be denied access to the U.S. banking system.

The French energy giant Total announced it was stopping gasoline sales to Iran, and Spain’s Repsol said it was withdrawing from a contract to help develop the South Pars gas field in southern Iran. BP, anxious to repair relations with Washington in the wake of the Gulf oil spill disaster, stopped refueling Iranian passenger planes.

The Chinese government opposed Washington’s new sanctions. “China supports the UN sanctions,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang, adding that other countries should focus on implementing the UN penalties, not expanding on them unilaterally. China’s trade with Iran reached $36.5 billion last year. Tehran supplies 11 percent of China’s energy.

The EU adopted further sanctions against Iran June 17, banning companies from investing in or aiding Iranian oil and gas firms. The EU currently bans its members from dealing with one Iranian bank, Bank Melli, but that is now under review. Washington has sanctions against transactions with 16 Iranian banks.

On July 6 the European Commission announced that two-thirds of Iran Air flights are banned from the airspace of the 27 EU countries. Iran Air is a government-owned company.

The commission claimed its decision was based only on safety, and should not be interpreted as another sanction against Iran’s nuclear program.

The ban affects Iran Air Airbus A-320 and Boeing B-727 and B-747 planes. The 30-year U.S. ban on most trade with Iran has made it particularly difficult for Iran to purchase spare parts to maintain its Boeing planes.

According to the Iranian news service Press TV, Iran now has only 23 aircraft allowed in EU airspace.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home