No. Russia's Iran Relations Do Not Change With The Nuclear Deal.
Indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran about the re-entry of the U.S. into the nuclear deal are progressing slowly and may not come to fruition any time soon.
Israel' government, with is in the mid of another election campaign, is still trying to derail any new deal:
Israel’s defence minister Benny Gantz will travel to the US later this week for a series of meetings with officials to discuss the latest developments.Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Wednesday urged Biden and Western powers to call off the deal with Iran, saying that negotiators are letting Tehran manipulate the talks.
“The countries of the West draw a red line, the Iranians ignore it, and the red line moves,” Lapid told reporters at a press conference in Jerusalem.
Israel has come up with many arguments against the deal. Most of those have been refuted long ago. A new hook is therefore needed to come up with something that may prevent a renewed agreement.
The current anti-Russian propaganda atmosphere allows to spin the alleged threats from Iran and Russia into a new narrative. (That Russia has recently taken a strong position against Israel may also have something to do with this.)
We thus get fantasy pieces like this from Poltico.eu
Russia eyes Iran as sanctions-busting backdoor for oil sales
A nuclear deal with Tehran would give Putin a perfectly timed Plan B to get oil out to global markets.
Russia plans to use Iran as a backdoor to circumvent international sanctions over Ukraine if Tehran’s nuclear accord with world powers comes back into force, Western diplomats say.Moscow dispatched teams of trade and finance officials as well as executives from Gazprom and other companies to Tehran in July following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with the Iranian leadership to lay the groundwork for closer cooperation between the two countries.
In recent weeks, Iran also sent two official delegations to Moscow focused on energy and finance. Among the senior officials in attendance were Iranian central bank chief Ali Saleh Abadi, Deputy Economy Minister Ali Fekri, and the head of the Iranian legislature's economy committee, Mohammad Reza Pour Ebrahimi. The Iranians spent several days meeting with their counterparts and private sector executives, according to the diplomats.
The principal attraction of Iran is that it provides a backup route to sell sanctioned Russian crude oil — the Kremlin's chief source of hard currency.
...
This get-out-of-jail-free card depends on whether the atomic deal, under which Iran would limit its nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief, is renewed.
Informed commentators were not impressed with the story:
Gregg Carlstrom @glcarlstrom - 13:18 UTC · Aug 24, 2022This very striking headline is built atop a dumpster fire of unsubstantiated claims, embellishments and omissions
Link to politico.eu
The facts are:
- Yes, Russia and Iran have agreed on new energy development projects in Iran.
- Yes, Russia and Iran have agreed to renew an old oil swap deal. As part of the larger deal Russian crude will flow through the Caspian Sea to Iran's north while Iran will sell oil from its fields in the south to pay for it.
- No, Russia has no need to sell oil through Iran.
- No, all the above has nothing to do with the nuclear deal.
Despite Europe's lunatic sanctions on Russian energy it oil exports are in fact doing very well:
Russia’s oil exports rose back above $20 billion in June despite lower shipments abroad because of a rally in energy prices, according to the International Energy Agency.That was an increase by $700 million from a month earlier, even as Russia’s daily exports of crude-oil and products fell by 250,000 barrels to 7.4 million barrels, the lowest since August, the IEA estimated in its monthly report published on Wednesday.
$20 billion in June adds up to $60 billion in a quarter year. For comparison:
Oil Exports in Russia increased to 32300 USD Million in the fourth quarter of 2021 from 29100 USD Million in the third quarter of 2021. source: Central Bank of Russia
Russia currently makes more money through oil sales than ever before.
The rest of the Politico piece is just as much garbage as the opening claims:
A further area of cooperation is finance. During Putin’s meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei in July, the two men discussed ways to break the dollar’s hold on global trade. Both countries’ banks have been banned from SWIFT, a U.S.-dominated system used to facilitate international trade, and their economies face extreme difficulty undertaking cross-border transactions.While ending the dollar’s dominance has been a largely quixotic effort so far, Iran is eager to help Russia find ways to hasten “de-dollarization,” the Western diplomats said.
Russia has already de-dollarized. Its deals with China, India, Iran and others are all made in bilateral or other non dollar currencies.
The 'western diplomats', most likely Israeli, are just making stuff up to create another argument against the nuclear deal. As usual they are actively trying to spread the theme.
It was therefore not astonishing to find a repeat of the same stupid claims a day later on the pages of the Washington Post where David Ignatius hyped the narrative:
Beware the emerging alliance between Russia and Iran
Beware the emerging Tehran-Moscow alliance: Russia has begun using Iranian-made drones in the Ukraine war and Iran has offered to share its financial networks to help Russia evade sanctions, according to Western intelligence officials.For Russia, struggling to maintain momentum in Ukraine after six months of brutal conflict, the new Iranian assistance could be a game changer, the intelligence officials warn. “This is not just a tactical alliance,” explained one official. With China and India refusing to sell weapons to Russia, Iran could become an essential pipeline for weapons and money.
...
Iranian financial aid for Russia would be even easier if sanctions against Tehran are lifted as part of a renewal of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the intelligence officials warned.
No Iranian-made drones have been seen in the Ukraine theater and while they may come one day or another it is unlikely to be anytime soon. Russia is selling weapons to India and to China and has no need to buy any from them.
Russia is certainly not in need of financial aid from Iran. It is a rich country and there are many other states, foremost NATO member Turkey, which are willing to handle transfers with Russia. There are in fact only 37 states who have sanctioned Russia and even those, including the U.S., are still making deals with it.
That Ignatius is using 'western intelligence officials' to describe his sources is revealing. If those were from the U.S. itself he would likely have used the term 'U.S. intelligence officials'. It is another hint that Israel is behind the story.
The whole narrative makes little sense. It also has absolutely nothing to do with an eventual return of the U.S. to the nuclear deal with Iran. That this nonsense argument is made now reveals that some Israeli officials are panicking.
Posted by b on August 26, 2022 at 14:01 UTC | Permalink
“If Iran were to acquire nuclear weapons, this could presage catastrophic consequences, not only for my country, and not only for the Middle East, but for all mankind,” adding that, “the deadline for attaining this goal is getting extremely close.”
--Benjamin Netanyahu, 1996
“They are very close, they are six months away from being about 90 percent of having the enriched uranium for an atom bomb.”
--Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” Sept. 16, 2012
" Iran is between six and eight months away from nuclear weapons"
--Olli Heinonen, ex-head of IAEA's security team, 5 June 2019
"Iran 10 weeks away from amassing enough weapons-grade material for nuke"
--Defense Minister Benny Gantz, August 4, 2021
“The thinking is that they could probably explode a crude nuclear device within six months, and it would take longer to put it on a missile.”
--Andrea Stricker, from the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, Aug 16, 2022
There are many more examples out there, but you get the idea...
Posted by: farm ecologist | Aug 26 2022 14:23 utc | 2
And how could Iran launder Russian oil when they struggle to sell their own oil?
-------- 'Russia is shelling and firing from a nuke plant' ----
The U.S. says that Russia is shelling a nuclear power plant while Ukraine says Russia is shelling them FROM the nuclear power plant. Ukraine is using the 'human shields' argument and the U.S. forgot to change their talking points.
Watching CNN fumble this by reporting both things is pathetic
Posted by: Christian Chuba | Aug 26 2022 14:27 utc | 4
There is going to be NO deal. Biden/Pelosi are with Trump on this.
Posted by: DilNir | Aug 26 2022 14:42 utc | 5
The bit about enriching uranium can be used to conceal the development of mini-nukes. The requirement for materials and the degree of enrichment is more relaxed than a full-scale fission bomb. IMHO, Beirut was a warning to Hezbollah and other mid-east actors. But of course, what's good for the goose... & etcetera.
Posted by: Tusky | Aug 26 2022 15:09 utc | 6
What they are really afraid of: Iran And Russia Move To Create A Global Natural Gas Cartel.
Posted by: sukhoi | Aug 26 2022 15:12 utc | 7
> Russia has recently taken a strong position against Israel
Some Jews say that this should be interpretation so simplified that loosing any meaning. They say Sohnut was run by American Jews and weakening it would actually benefit Israel-first Jews, so Russia was not "anti-Israeli" but took part in Israel internal "civil cold war"
Posted by: Arioch | Aug 26 2022 15:29 utc | 8
Excellent Chomskyesque takedown. Congratulations.
Posted by: Pacifica_Advocate | Aug 26 2022 15:30 utc | 9
circumvent international sanctions
what utter BS, they are illegal sanctions imposed by the NATO states.
Posted by: Peter M | Aug 26 2022 15:41 utc | 10
AIPAC spent massive amounts of money picking Democrat candidates that will oppose every thing Iran. After the mid terms there will be no one on ether side of the aisle that won't be spitting blood every time they hear the name Iran. Another war front is coming.
Posted by: BraveNewWorld | Aug 26 2022 15:50 utc | 11
Ukraine continuing to bomb the nuclear fuel shows they WANT to create an international disaster and will do anything to create it. I think the only thing it will produce is a likely escalation from Russia. I'd be carpet bombing the area that is shelling the spent fuel. Its bad enough they have bombed the power lines, ensuring their own people are in the dark. Then blame it on Russia, which makes ZERO sense to anyone with a brain.
Posted by: Joe Smith | Aug 26 2022 15:53 utc | 12
The refrain that somehow Russia needs "to sell oil for hard currency" shows an economic understanding dependent on Western notions based on mercantilism and capitalism. In reality, Russia only needs to pump enough oil and capture enough gas for its domestic consumption. Anything else is a gift.
Posted by: Tedder | Aug 26 2022 15:58 utc | 13
The critical factor to watch is non-dollar trade flows. This will signal pace of de-dollarization
Posted by: Exile | Aug 26 2022 16:06 utc | 14
Tedder @ 13:
Very well put - and add to that that all Germany has to do is put into operation NS2 and their economic pain will will wither, it makes one wonder what grasp the political class in the West has of reality.
Imagine that for a second: the totally hypersanctioned Russians will take a hot shower every morning, eat a cheap hart breakfast, then ride off in cars fuels with the lowest cost gas in Europe under well lit street lights - while the Western Europeans in their total power intoxication have nothing like that........epic!
Posted by: Peter Camenzind | Aug 26 2022 16:21 utc | 15
What's evident is desperation that Russia's economy is humming instead of dying as was so highly touted. I see it as a continuing trend in articles pushed by Bloomberg and kin that are refuted by highly credible Russian sources. We get yet another example today from Putin's meeting with Ceo of Aeroflot Public Joint Stock Company Sergey Alexandrovsky. With the sanctions from hell onslaught, Russia's airline industry's livelihood was seriously questioned and challenged, and that included its civilian aircraft industry. What has emerged is yet another national utility where the entire industry is now vertically oriented, although not all challenges are solved. What follows is the meat of their conversation:
Vladimir Putin: How do you assess the medium-term prospects?Sergei Alexandrovsky: Now our main focus will be on preparing domestic aircraft for operation. Our strategy is now being updated, but it is already fully synchronized with the comprehensive program for the development of the transport industry until 2030.
We plan to contract a total of 323 domestic aircraft, including 73 Sukhoi Superjets, 210 MS-21s – this is already in a new look, with Russian engines, import-substituted aircraft, as well as 40 Tu-214 aircraft. These are very significant amounts, of course, they will require additional resources from us. It will be necessary to increase and attract additional pilots in the amount of about 3.5 thousand people for this program, and eight full-flight simulators will also be required, that is, this is a serious impetus for the development of the company not only in the medium term, but also in the long term, I would say.
Vladimir Putin: And the aircraft industry, too.
Sergei Alexandrovsky: Of course.
Vladimir Putin: There has not been such an order for a long time.
Sergei Alexandrovsky: This is certain: there were no such orders, there were definitely none in my memory. But this is a mutual work of both the airline and the industry, because, in addition to producing an aircraft, it is also necessary to properly put it into operation. Again, this is a very intensive joint work, we did it on the example of the Sukhoi Superjet. Vitaly Savelyev once suggested that I head Rossiya Airlines and improve the efficiency of the Sukhoi Superjet.
Vladimir Putin: We need to establish maintenance and spare parts to ensure that all this happens.
Sergei Alexandrovsky: This is a key question, of course. The aircraft not only needs to be produced, but also that it is effectively operated by the company and flies qualitatively.
Unmentioned of course is the loss of the Russian market by Airbus and Boeing, and other airlines. Furthermore, Aeroflot and Russia will reap the benefits from air travel being a natural monopoly as long as the focus remains on quality and efficiency throughout the entire organization. Other carriers will still offer competition, but their focus is on the international market.
In Russia's transition to an almost completely self-contained economy, I've been very impressed as its overcome difficulties while continuing to march forward on its national development projects. While his staff and that of the PM have been excellent, Putin's been the overall ringmaster in this whole process. I know the governing structure was quite different then, but IMO if Putin had been made the head man in 1953, the USSR wouldn't have died in 1989. Do note that's my own considered opinion and I don't intend to debate it as those days are gone. Putin turns 70 in October, so how much longer will he govern becomes an ever-increasingly legitimate question as well as who's next. IMO, he'll try to get to the end of the current development cycle which ends in 2030.
There is going to be NO deal. Biden/Pelosi are with Trump on this.Posted by: DilNir | Aug 26 2022 14:42 utc | 5
Correct, the owners of the Epstein Kompromat files will make sure of that. In Russia, they are considered a 5th column. In the USA they are also the 2nd, 3rd and 4th columns.
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Aug 26 2022 16:39 utc | 17
Hmmm.... "Russia eyes Iran as sanctions-busting backdoor for oil sales"
See MK Bhadrakumar's latest on this issue:
https://www.indianpunchline.com/where-jcpoa-oil-conjoin-stands-opec/
MK says:
A western narrative has gained ground that Russia opposes the Iran-US nuclear deal, since Iran will be replacing Russian oil in the lucrative European market and in the process drive down the high oil price too by flooding the world market with its increased up oil production, which would erode Moscow’s income out of oil exports, the mainstay of its economy.In reality, though, there is no contradiction here as far as Iran and Russia are concerned. The expert opinion uniformly is that this is far from a situation that Iran completely replaces Russian oil from the global energy market. Conceivably, Iran could add as much as 900,000 barrels a day of production within three months of sanctions being eased, and potentially pump near its full capacity of about 3.7 million barrels per day within six months.
"cracks the whip at 'israel'"? sure. okay. all they did was shut down an aliyah NGO. there are still a LOT of russians in "israel" with both passports and that won't change any time soon. they also seem fine letting the assholes violate syrian air space on a regular basis. there was the little spat about "israel" supporting "the ukraine" but it's not like either of those governments is longed for this world.
that headline about russia "needing iranian money" is what kids today call "teh facepalms". i look forward to their breaking story on "cuba sending financial aid to florida".
Posted by: the pair | Aug 26 2022 16:44 utc | 19
Regarding the Iran nuclear deal
This Iran deal by a non-democratic autocratic president is different from the previous bum deals because it may require congressional support, which it would fail to accomplish.
from Bloomberg
“Congress must review any agreement that is reached,” Representative Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a letter Tuesday to President Joe Biden. “It is completely unreasonable for this administration to think that a review could be favorable without a robust history of engagement with Congress, to include an increased tempo of briefings as negotiations reach their purported end game.”McCaul said congressional approval of any effort to revive the 2015 Iran accord would be needed under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, which requires the president to send any accord reached with Iran on its nuclear program to Congress for review along with associated materials, including an assessment of the US’s ability to verify Iran’s compliance with the deal.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the House Foreign Affairs Committee in April that “we’ll meet whatever requirements” the review act imposes. The law provides mechanisms for Congress to block an agreement -- subject to a presidential veto -- and to reimpose sanctions if Iran is found to be in violation of its terms. here
And of course we would likely see another treaty rip-up if the unpopular Biden is replaced by a Repub in a couple years.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Aug 26 2022 16:53 utc | 20
In Fact,
RUS and IRN Trade Relations will further improve with:
SCO/BRICS
North-South Trade Corridor
...and...
A NatGas Cartel!
RUS and IRN - Holders of Largest and 2nd Largest NatGas Reserves - Move to Create a Global NATURAL GAS CARTEL.
Posted by: IronForge | Aug 26 2022 16:56 utc | 21
RT reports that Norway's government refuses to force its energy companies to offer longterm contracts at below market prices to aid stricken EU neighbors:
“I do not plan for a policy whereby petroleum firms on the Norwegian continental shelf are instructed to enter into fixed-price contracts for gas deliveries,” Aasland wrote in a letter to parliament late on Thursday, as quoted by Reuters. He indicated that Norway should instead focus on delivering as much gas as it can to meet soaring demand, and on remaining a reliable supplier.The minister pointed out that 20 years ago Brussels had itself abandoned the practice of long-term contracts in favor of the spot market, and now the Norwegian system “keeps the option for companies to enter into such contracts, based solely on economic interests.”
Norway, which has overtaken Russia as Europe’s biggest gas supplier after Moscow cut flows, will curtail exports significantly next month due to heavy maintenance activity. [My Emphasis]
Aha! Brussels began cutting its own throat 20 years ago. What foresight!! Russia offered and built the antidote, but Germany holds the EU hostage by refusing to open NS2. But Germany's an occupied nation and thus has no sovereignty over policy meaning it's the Outlaw US Empire that's killing the EU. End the Empire's occupation of Europe and improvements can be immediately implemented.
Posted by: the pair | Aug 26 2022 16:44 utc | 19
Russia treads a fine line. There are just over a million Russian 'Jews' in Israel, so the Russians have to negotiate the space between Israel and Russia's allies, for example, Syria and don't forget, even as I support the SMO, Putin and his government are no progressives, indeed there seems to be a really reactionary, fundamentalist thread running through Russian society unfortunately! But they act purely in defence of the Motherland. This is all about the survival of Russia, fuck everybody else except Russia's natural home, the Global South. I wish it were about a global socialist revolution but maybe 'Multi-Polarity is the first step?
PS to #23:
Don't forget, in the mix of the Global South, we have Cuba, Venezuela, now Nicaragua and Colombia and China and I think China is playing the very long game. This is most definitely a key moment in humanity's existence, it's do or die, literally!
Don Bacon @20--
The JCPOA is dead. Congressional groupthink will never approve of anything positive for Iran, just as it won't end the illegal Cuba Embargo. IMO, both Iran, Russia and China understand that reality and make policy accordingly. The upshot is that as the Empire's oil extraction rates decline its ideological lock will keep it from getting imports. The big question I see is what happens when Saudi and other exporters refuse to accept worthless dollars for their valuable product? Canada's bitumen won't save the day because there's not enough water or gas to manufacture it into a usable product in the long term.
Ignatius? David Ignatius? THAT David Ignatius?
Yes, I know him. He is a complete tool.
For example:
From a January 8, 2020 WaPo CYA article about the discredited Steele dossier:
Washington Post columnist David Ignatius
Original quote: “As incestuous as these relationships might seem, they don’t impugn the accuracy of the main thrust of the information that Steele gathered, much of which has since been confirmed.” (From a September 2018 column titled “The GOP’s spin on the Russia probe doesn’t add up.”)
There are more tools in the MSM than Sears ever offered.
Posted by: Richard Whitney | Aug 26 2022 17:25 utc | 26
I go to look at Seyed Mohammad Marandi on twitter about every week. I do it as a a guest as Marandi is the only person I go to Twitter to look at. Educated in the usOfa (diplomatic family) he is presently very busy with the Iranian side of the negotiations.
I was so impressed with him on a RT Crosstalk segment; Jamal Khashoggi would just launch in vehemently on Marandi. The topic was the war in Yemen. And Marandi was not flustered, did not raise his voice, cool as a cucumber and steady as a rock. Host Peter LaVelle gave Marandi the last word and Marandi with stern concern but no real animus asked Khashoggi to ask himself why he was defending a nation that was trying so hard to kill him. Less than 60 seconds, Full stop end and LaVelle ended the show. So prescient.
In longer interviews his wry humour surfaced at times. He is not doing these at this time, he is busy with the negotiaions in the background.
This usOfa citizen who misses his 13 plus years in Canada does not give a f. f. about what any usOfa administration does, it just might open the doors up to trade with Europe.
I could be wrong, but the Iranian fatwa against nuclear weapons to me seems to be not just a stance, but a true spiritual judgement, governments rarely do that. Maybe that is why Dugin went to Iran so many times for engagement, the linkage of the spiritual gifts of Shiism with the spiritual gifts of the Orthodox flavour of Christianity.
But to be back on point, I find it worthwhile to read Marandi and/or listen to him on Iranian and other issues.
Posted by: paxmark1 | Aug 26 2022 17:35 utc | 27
Posted by: Scorpion | Aug 26 2022 15:24 utc | 299
What you are presenting is an argument for technological determinism.
A brief outline to the thesis would be as follows:
The introduction of the printing press and the published book undermined existing patterns of social control (the Church), gave rise to independent personal inquiry (the Enlightenment), provided accurate record of events (giving rise to science, historiography, the establishment of codified law), set the foundation for formal education, and established the basis of the state and its bureaucracy.
The net result was empowerment of the individual, a great deal of conflict within the Western states as ideas were contested and thrashed out on the printed page and public debate.
The development of the microprocessor enhanced corporate and state control. The state now has the capacity to discover all your records (Snowden), capture all of your communications (NASA "warehousing" of all communications traffic), determine your location at all times, permitted de-industrialization (all jobs can move to lower cost jurisdictions as I retain the capacity to oversee and control all associated process activity), manipulate public access to information (200 ukie casualties and 60,000 RF KIA, no Nazis, Putin cut off our energy supply, we are fighting for democracy). This paragraph is easily expanded to book length.
You can argue that the several hundred lost souls who inhabit this bar demonstrate the positive aspect of technology. Just wait until someone decides b is too perceptive a critic, or gives a too truthful account, and bingo - a genuine 404 will appear on your screen.
Is there a solution? It is not possible to propose a valid solution until you first develop a complete understanding of the problem. Anything else is just tinkering.
Is there time? What is fairly evident is that there will be a great many excess deaths in Europe this winter. Excessive cold, restricted diet, the presence of a pernicious virus which preys on those with a weak immune system suggest that for many time is quickly running out. They are now on the zero line, involuntary conscripts in a conflict that never need happen and only occurred because a select few desired it.
Posted by: Sushi | Aug 26 2022 17:39 utc | 28
@ karlof1 | Aug 26 2022 17:10 utc | 25
The JCPOA is dead.
Yes, and it should be, because:
>It's a violation of the UN Charter -- "The [UN] Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members." . . No other country is subject to such a demeaning 'agreement.'
>It (like some other presidential 'agreements') is really a treaty which therefore, according to the Constitution, requires Senate approval.
>The whole concept of presidential "executive privilege' i.e. an autocratic president is baseless, despite the BS that Biden cackled recently in another matter: "I directed this discrete military action consistent with my responsibility to protect United States citizens both at home and abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive and to conduct United States foreign relations." . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Aug 26 2022 17:43 utc | 29
Israel has come up with many arguments against the deal. Most of those have been refuted long ago. A new hook is therefore needed to come up with something that may prevent a renewed agreement.The current anti-Russian propaganda atmosphere allows to spin the alleged threats from Iran and Russia into a new narrative. (That Russia has recently taken a strong position against Israel may also have something to do with this.)
We thus get fantasy pieces like this from Poltico.eu
From the moment Russia intervened in Syria to counter the US/Israeli intervention this has all been about Israel. If you don't point that out, none of this makes any kind of sense. 'Russiagate' was spun out of Trump's aversion to the prospect of committing US forces to directly enter the fight in Syria and 'Russiagate' a core element of how this all escalated. (Both in terms of the receptive attitude of progressive liberals in the US and Europe and through Putin himself feeling even more in the corsairs from the insane rhetoric it inspired in the US and Europe)
Everything the neocons do is about Israel even wrt to China since they need to keep the US a dominant enough hegemon in order for it to act as Israel's golem in the Middle East.
Indeed the chief proximate gain for the neocons they wanted from this war was to tie down Russian military resources in Ukraine so they could hammer Syria and we're seeing that right now. The NATO (US, British and weirdly Norwegian) occupation force in Syria (Which almost no American is aware of and didn't even come up in the heated Clinton/Trump debates on the matter when Trump was calling Clinton 'the mother of ISIS') has already done what it was there to do, take casualties from enemy fire to justify an escalation spiral they can launder into a full scale air and eventual ground campaign to oust Assad and wreck Syria so Israel can engage in it's settler colonial land grabs more easily.
The attacks on Syria aren't merely another way to attack Russia, the attacks on Russia have been with an eye to free up the opportunity to attack Syria from the very start.
Posted by: Altai | Aug 26 2022 17:43 utc | 30
re: Israel has come up with many arguments against the deal. Most of those have been refuted long ago.
Israel's control of the US government including every member of the Congress is a reality, which will remain so for the foreseeable future despite any specific arguments. That is best evidenced by the loss of Cynthia McKinney from the Congress, years ago. It provides an example of what might happen to any US government member who kicks over the traces (i.e. doesn't stay in line). . .here. . . .Will Joe Biden, who has declared himself a Zionist, do what nobody else would dare do? and why?
Posted by: Don Bacon | Aug 26 2022 18:32 utc | 31
involuntary conscripts
Sushi | Aug 26 2022 17:39 utc | 28
i just assume that, thanks to gladio type ops, EU gov'ts are in full complicity with the attempt to coerce and terrorize their populaces into war with Russia. the US cannot send its own lardass, meth-addled citizens to do any heavy lifting. we manufacture cheerleaders for combat, like Ignatius and President Bushwhacka, not so many capable combatants, these days.
Revelation 9:21 & 18:23-24, in God's own KJV, on the destruction of "Babylon":
9:21 neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
18: 23 and the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
"sorceries" = pharmakeia, aka drugs, potions and the like. it is rather amazing that for the Jesus goblins and Christ puffs of this country, the greatest book of all is The Apocalypse, another book of marvels chock full of clues about how awful Russia is.
now who keeps messing with my meds....
Posted by: rjb1.5 | Aug 26 2022 18:37 utc | 32
The UAE is a real hub for trade in commodities. It is an oil trader, and Russian oil desks may relocate from Europe to UAE.
UAE has massive investments in Russia. Maybe interest will be paid in dirham, not rubles...
Posted by: Powerandpeople | Aug 26 2022 19:01 utc | 33
Ignatius? David Ignatius? THAT David Ignatius?
Posted by: Richard Whitney | Aug 26 2022 17:25 utc | 26
nah. The David Ignatius whose middle-name is Matty Frum.
Posted by: sln2002 | Aug 26 2022 20:03 utc | 34
Oh no, our enemies have banded together, say the empire’s mouthpieces. What to do, what to do?
Can’t bomb them to smithereens, like we did to Iraq. They might fight back. Oh no, what do?
The nuke deal has always been, the theater of the absurd for the absurd. A tool to put Iran in the corner (as if that was possible) and keep it there.
Every time the signing of the deal comes closer, the shrill voices are up in arms with how bad the Iranians are, and why their ‘destabilizing’ activities should be stopped. Personal stories are thrown in just to ramp up the negative view of Iran and Iranians. Taking a look at todays headlines: “Women are allowed to watch soccer,” never mind that unlike buddy, buddies KSA, women in Iran can, drive, vote, own businesses, and serve in the cabinet as VPs.
On another: Woman previously held in Iran is running a marathon. Or, Berlin confirms Iran arrested another German citizen. And Rushdi, and on and on.
Where is Nima Shirazi now? He used to keep a list of predictions of Iran and the bomb, going back to 90s.
Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Aug 26 2022 20:14 utc | 35
Posted by: Sushi | Aug 26 2022 17:39 utc | 28
What you are presenting is an argument for technological determinism.
Thank you for yet another insightful post (and response). I realized after publishing it that I had left out a huge swathe of related aspects, an omission which in part prompted some of the thrust of your reply.
What I omitted was that, just as with individual beings like ourselves, so also nations/societies are multilayered, multifaceted indeed virtual multiverses. For example there are moral, religious, family, cultural, governance, historical, geographical, external (caused by neighbours and enemies) and climate factors always in the mix. So just mentioning how technology drives changes that spread throughout the globe over time ignored those other factors.
What has struck me thus far with the SMO campaign is the way Russia has represented herself as consistently embodying core principals backed by word and deed moreover in an emerging new geopolitical dynamic of seemingly epochal significance following those same core principles. I don't recall anything like that in my experience as long-term resident in many different western countries over the decades. There are hints of it in Shakespeare, which of course is stylized fiction portraying entire kingdoms peopled by rarely more than twenty five souls, and hinted at in historical accounts of various medieval, Roman, Greek or other ancient polities, but these too are essentially imagined.
Russia is standing for old-fashioned Westphalian nation state values linked with religious faith (which in her case includes Buddhism and Islam along with Orthodox Christianity), historical character, recently formed constitution, norms of international law, respect for human life and a determined adherence to a code of honour which, among other things, greatly values sacrifice of life and limb for a higher cause, keeping one's word and judging others according to how well they manifest a similar sort of honour code.
These other elements are the additional variables beyond the technological imperative. The latter does exist but so do the former. Perhaps we can say they are karmic facets in that a country that sticks to an honor code is going to end up in a very different situation than one who practices mainly deceit or colonial conquest. A country with a vibrant, uplifted culture is going to have a different type of influence than one relying on terror, armed force or financial blackmail.
Countries which are generally uplifted and positive will inspire others to join with them or imitate them independently. This in turn creates what we call a civilization which ends up being essentially some sort of multipolar association of sovereign states, a global federal vision if you will. Countries which are generally wicked and suppressive may influence others through domination and violence, but such civilizations will not spread and last for long because they go against basically good human nature and so repel far more than they attract.
So there are moral, spiritual, cultural and other imperatives as well as only the technological.
That said, the nature of the cyber-tech world now emerging is a bit of a paradigm shift because pretty soon all transactions involving money will be recorded and can also be blocked or permitted by alogorithms over which the users, aka us, have no knowledge or control and which permeate world wide activities of all individuals everywhere. A new world of sorts requiring entirely new concepts of citizenship, leadership, ownership and so forth.
Let us hope Eurasia is serious about respecting the norms of sovereignty and law in the UN charters (which no doubt could be improved), but even if they are I suspect the new technologies are going to force changes in what works and doesn't. Even so, many other things are just as, if not more, important than technology.
You ended with:
Is there a solution? It is not possible to propose a valid solution until you first develop a complete understanding of the problem. Anything else is just tinkering.
Is there time? What is fairly evident is that there will be a great many excess deaths in Europe this winter. Excessive cold, restricted diet, the presence of a pernicious virus which preys on those with a weak immune system suggest that for many time is quickly running out. They are now on the zero line, involuntary conscripts in a conflict that never need happen and only occurred because a select few desired it.
Perhaps we need to fully understand the problem but I'm not so sure because it's a fathomless rabbit hole which ends up with Mad Hatter tea parties and Red Queen 'off with their heads!' dynamics. Rather we just need to see a good path forward by aligning our spirits words and deeds with what we know to be sane, good, right, honorable. Yes this is corny, but it is also actually doable. Almost impossible to imagine happening given how crazed everything is, how corrupt our societies and so forth, but still: not so hard to actually do.
I guess it has to start with each individual. That is how we say 'no' to unreasonable demands, by knowing they are unreasonable and wrong and therefore having the confidence, along with humility, to refuse to play the fool or empower the demons. But also, perhaps no less importantly, that is how we cultivate lives that say 'yes' to the right things, or rather just do the right things without any words, without explanation, because we have oriented ourselves in the right direction from the get-go and proceed accordingly. Indeed some might say that learning how to do this IS the essential meaning of life. Every moment of every day presents us with a choice on how we proceed and perhaps HOW we do it is more important than where we think we are headed. The original meaning of the Asian words Dharma or Do or Dao mean 'Way' as in 'way we travel,' the way we proceed.
Interesting times...
Importance of de-dollarization
The rest of the Politico piece is just as much garbage as the opening claims:While ending the dollar’s dominance has been a largely quixotic effort so far, Iran is eager to help Russia find ways to hasten “de-dollarization,” the Western diplomats said.
I have been writing about the importance of de-dollarization for the last eight years. the Politico piece is notable, as it is about the first time Politico uses the term. (Still in quotes, though.)
Posted by: Petri Krohn | Aug 26 2022 21:49 utc | 38
Iran should set the world a dead line: either any and all sanctions on the country are fully and permanently lifted by that date, or Iran will no longer negotiate anything and instead cancel the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and do whatever it wants.
Posted by: Nico | Aug 26 2022 21:57 utc | 39
There is another project between Iran and Russia coming: They plan to create a Gas-Cartel like the Oil cartel, maybe together with Kataar. Thes hold more than 65% odf the world-gas resources, and if they can build the cartell and it is not based on USD, it will give a big drop for the USD.
Posted by: Peter | Aug 26 2022 23:28 utc | 40
>Iran has signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and there is no proof Iran has ever had a nuclear weapons program.
>Although Israel has possessed nuclear weapons since the 1960's, it maintains a policy of nuclear opacity, never officially confirming the existence of its nuclear program. Accordingly, Israel has never signed the NPT.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Aug 26 2022 23:28 utc | 41
@ Peter | Aug 26 2022 23:28 utc | 40
. . . plan to create a Gas-Cartel like the Oil cartel, maybe together with Kataar.
Iran and Qatar share the world's largest gas field.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Aug 26 2022 23:32 utc | 42
Europe wants and needs the deal specially if it’s going to continue with Russian sanctions, therefore there are a lot of pressure on Americans to accept Iran’s conditions, Israelites and naturally worried that Americans food under Europes pressure. b is right Irans relation with China and now with Russia is total strategic ( standing to western/ US hegemony) and not tactical and for sure not transactional.
Everyone in Iran understand this, who ever knows history of Iran in last millennium will better understand the reasons. What Iran does with her FO is called negative balancing. Iran has been using balance of power to stabilize her security for centuries. Israeli regime is not a serious thereat to Iran it never can be.
Posted by: Kooshy | Aug 26 2022 23:45 utc | 43
That said I have never seen ayatollah Khamenei ever walk to any leader and good hand in a photo up. IMO he respects Putin for what his stand to western pressures.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/07/20/world/politics-diplomacy-world/putin-forges-ties-iran/
It makes sense if Israelites are scared of this picture
Posted by: Kooshy | Aug 26 2022 23:52 utc | 44
Powerandpeople | Aug 26 2022 19:01 utc | 33
“……UAE has massive investments in Russia. Maybe interest will be paid in dirham, not rubles
Aarhah!. Saw a piece that India is buying Russian oil and paying in dirham. (and yuan)
Paying in wwwhat? I asked my search engine of choice.
De-U$ Dollarization is happening slowly slowly slowly…. And then, all at once.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Aug 27 2022 0:00 utc | 45
Posted by: Don Bacon | Aug 26 2022 17:43 utc | 29
Don contrary to archaic 18 century US constitution, Iranian president, even supreme leaders have no authority to approve, execute any agreement, treaty or not with an executive order.
US as it’s media likes to call has an undemocratic imperial presidency. In Iran as ayatollah Khomeini said parliament is on top of all affairs. IMO the most powerful body on national security affairs is its supreme national security council.
Posted by: Kooshy | Aug 27 2022 0:05 utc | 46
@ Kooshy | Aug 26 2022 23:52 utc | 44
That said I have never seen ayatollah Khamenei ever walk to any leader and good hand in a photo up. IMO he respects Putin for what his stand to western pressures.
Good for him.
Kooshy you remember. . .
Going to Tehran: Why America Must Accept the Islamic Republic of Iran – December 31, 2013
by Flynt Leverett (Author), Hillary Mann Leverett (Author)
. . .looks like Russia is doing what the US should have done
Posted by: Don Bacon | Aug 27 2022 0:23 utc | 47
@ Kooshy | Aug 27 2022 0:05 utc | 46
Don contrary to archaic 18 century US constitution, Iranian president, even supreme leaders have no authority . .
The Constitution gives the president no such powers, they just (1) do what they want and (2) call it democracy.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Aug 27 2022 0:27 utc | 48
for Russia Iran it is all about the gas, any nuke deal just plays into this. Russia wins. With Qatar this will be the largest gas cartel ever, 70% of the global market. US will be able to provide for itself but not Europe leaving them to beg on bended knees for cheap Russian gas again.
Posted by: Boris | Aug 27 2022 0:57 utc | 49
Going to Tehran: Why America Must Accept the Islamic Republic of Iran – December 31, 2013 by Flynt Leverett (Author), Hillary Mann Leverett (Author) . . .looks like Russia is doing what the US should have donePosted by: Don Bacon | Aug 27 2022 0:23 utc | 47
Don, Thanks for the post, even though it’s addressed to Kooshy. ar. I do remember them, and thus, I must interject in the conversation. I hope it’s cool with you fellas.
I do remember the Leveretts, and their site, Goin to Tehran, previously known as ‘Race for Iran.’ It was changed after they wrote the book that you mentioned above. An important site at the time when Iran news and talk of ‘war on Iran’ (a dig at RSH) was en-vogue.
I considered the two academics true patriots, as they wanted their country to do better. I have been meaning to do a post, wishing them well.
Somehow after 2015, when the nuke deal was signed, their site became defunct. Do you know what happened?
And thanks again, for a trip down memory lane.
Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Aug 27 2022 1:18 utc | 50
Oh, and b used to come out and play there too.
Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Aug 27 2022 1:23 utc | 51
It appears Flynt Leverett is still at Penn State University in the School of International Affairs
https://sia.psu.edu/faculty/leverett
Several years ago I had the opportunity to attend a day-long seminar at Penn State moderated by the Leveretts. Former diplomat Richard Butler related the negotiation conducted at his dining room table in 1995, when the NPT was up for renewal. He explained that the parties at the table -- including Iran, Saudis, other Middle Eastern states but not Israel -- agreed to extend the NPT on the promise of "making the region a nuclear-free zone" would be the subject of a conference, and would include Israel.
To date, that promise has not been fulfilled.
The most recent appearance by Hillary seems to be a Jul 14 2022 discussion on Biden's trip to Saudi Arabia/Israel
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/audio/2022-07-14/sound-on-implications-of-biden-s-trip-latest-on-chips-radio
Speaking of 'walking down memory lane' -- Hillary's comments about Biden's trip to Israel (and attendant agreement to send more money to Israel), and expressions of concern over possible energy strains consequent to Russia's involvement in a war, remind one of how rapidly the international situation has deteriorated, and how incompetent the Biden administration has been to manage it.
The comment was repeated that "US is delegating to Israel security in the Middle East."
Hillary is principal of Stratega Consulting and is still mentioned as "professional lecturer" at American University, but her profile does not appear among the current faculty at AU.
Posted by: ChasMark | Aug 27 2022 2:33 utc | 52
@ ChasMark | Aug 27 2022 2:33 utc | 52
Thanks for that.
The Arab League (I think it was) was at one time pushing for a nuclear-free Middle East but the US was no help as it affected Israel.
Kooshy and I (and some others) had a good time on the Leveretts' blog site years ago, before as you say "the international situation has deteriorated."
The "US is delegating to Israel security in the Middle East" happens because each and every congress-critter has been bought-and-paid-for by Israel, no exceptions. Democracy at work! (not)
Posted by: Don Bacon | Aug 27 2022 3:27 utc | 53
On the subject of nuclear, Russia is building nuclear power plants in Egypt, South Korea, Bangladesh, India and Iran. Far from isolated.
All western media blatantly lie about the nuclear power plant of Former Ukraine. Since May 2022 it is within Russian control. Why should Russia shell it? Ukraine is the aggressor and keeps attacking it. Ukraine is desperate to take over the plant before winter. Western media has fallen into their own cesspool of lies. With no oil, gas and electricity in sufficient volumes it is going to be a harsh winter for Ukraine which will force it to surrender. Russia must decouple the nuclear power plant from Ukraine's grid and link it to provide electricity to now independent republics of Former Ukraine.
Posted by: Jason | Aug 27 2022 3:55 utc | 54
Posted by: ChasMark | Aug 27 2022 2:33 utc | 52
Thanks for the update ChasMark.
Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Aug 27 2022 4:02 utc | 55
"If an Arab does not like and respect you, he will never do business with you."
That was one of the first things I was told when I first came to the Middle East. I guess Biden and the US now know what the Arabs truly think of them. The Saudis are quietly and slowly repairing their relationship with Iran although I'm not sure what MBS is playing at with the terror state of Israel. The Yemen conflict hopefully will in the near future slowly wind up - let's be grateful that the UAF are not as good with their drones as the Houthi.
Saudi Arabia in Brics should help smooth the waters between them and Iran. My biggest worry at present is that the US seeing its influence wane in Saudi Arabia starts to encourage along the lines of the Daesh terrorist attacks of a few years ago (indiscriminate bombing of Friday prayers in Shia mosques). I have colleagues who lost friends in those attacks
Posted by: Al Dossary | Aug 27 2022 4:14 utc | 56
Iran was never naive enough to think that the JCPOA would ever amount to much. They knew that Israel would never let the US really lift sanctions. It gave them the most that they ever expected from it: a bit of breathing room. They could see the rise of China and Putin giving Russia its balls back.
With the west electing leaders more clownish than the last, what is happening now was inevitable. In the meantime, Iran has been working hard to forge relationships with Russia, China, India and basically everybody that the west ignores, disrespects or both.
My guess is that in the near future, Iran will invite Russian and Chinese warships to come hang out in the Persian Gulf for a bit...if for no other reason than to watch American imperialists freak the hell out.
Posted by: Joe Walker | Aug 27 2022 4:17 utc | 57
Sure would be funny to see a Naval Base in Iran accommodating Russia and China. Its good enough for the British and US in Bahrain after all.
Wonder if those Israeli subs are still loitering in the Gulf of Oman - its telling that the attacks on the tankers last year happened in the Gulf of Oman rather than the Arabian Gulf.
Posted by: Al Dossary | Aug 27 2022 5:10 utc | 58
The US is no longer a participant to the nuclear deal.
The remaining participants to the nuclear deal need to find a legitimate way to fulfill their obligations to one another within the framework of and pursuant to the JCPOA.
The bilateral relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation are obviously not contingent upon the status of the JCPOA, nor should they be.
Also, by the way,
Yes, it is entirely possible for the remaining participants to the JCPOA to find a legitimate way to fulfill their obligations to one another, without the participation of the 'US Government'.
This is going to have to start happening anyway. Nations involved in international agreements are going to have to start finding a way to interact with each other legitimately (even in the business sector and in the economic sphere) without the involvement of the government of DC. I cannot think of any better time to start doing so than right now, and I cannot think of any better way to do so than this. If the Europeans want to keep pretending that the Americans have all of their money, and everyone else wants to keep pretending to believe them, then maybe everyone needs to keep believing in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, and forever remain befuddled at why their agreements keep not working out all that well.
@Altai | Aug 26 2022 17:43 utc | 30
The NATO (US, British and weirdly Norwegian) occupation force in SyriaWeird indeed. Maybe it is a weird reference to the Crusades, after all King Sigurd Jorsalfar (i.e. "Sigurd who travelled to Jorsal") led the Crusade to Jorsal (Jerusalem) in 1107.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigurd_the_Crusader#Norwegian_Crusade
A couple of local election cycles ago, I personally confronted a couple of politicians on the Norwegian occupation in Syria. They looked away. I will never vote for anyone who doesn't answer to this question. To be clear, it is a crime.
Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 27 2022 8:46 utc | 61
When the Shah was working on a quoting an atom bomb with South Africa I do not recall Israel being hysterical. Is that because Shin Beth was training Savak ? Or because Pahlavi was supplying Israel with oil ?
Israel acquired nuclear weapons quite illegally and with help of France and James Jesus Angleton and CIA. Israel has never allowed Inspections from IAEA and has yet to face trade sanctions from EU
Israel is rogue and needs to be rendered less Prussian you know Ein Volk im Waffen threatening neighbours
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Aug 27 2022 10:20 utc | 62
Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 27 2022 8:46 utc | 61
...
A couple of local election cycles ago, I personally confronted a couple of politicians on the Norwegian occupation in Syria. They looked away. I will never vote for anyone who doesn't answer to this question. To be clear, it is a crime.
I too have similar deal breakers for elections. Good for you for taking that extra step and actually forcing the issue. That they looked away is illustrative of the fact that foreign policy has long been confiscated from the electorate. Various topics will of course be discussed, but always within a carefully controlled framework.
In my opinion, any hope hope for leverage in this field must start with the reappropriation of the narrative.
Posted by: robin | Aug 27 2022 10:22 utc | 63
Al Dossary [58]
You call them “Israeli submarines” as if they were not a Gift of the German Taxpayer
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Aug 27 2022 10:23 utc | 64
@ Posted by: paxmark1 | Aug 26 2022 17:35 utc | 27
Marandi is great, I even just watched his most recent episode on the Grayzone's Push Back. I really wish he'd be interviewed more often!
Posted by: Minkz | Aug 27 2022 12:41 utc | 65
Al Dossary [58]
"the Arabian Gulf" says it all.
Posted by: thecelticwithinme | Aug 27 2022 13:37 utc | 66
And I thought the US government was alone saying "the Arabian Gulf".
Posted by: Don Bacon | Aug 27 2022 13:42 utc | 67
Sakineh Bagoom | Aug 27 2022 1:18 utc | 50
Don and Sakineh, I have been reading your posts and admire your consistency in your core opinions. Going to Tehran seems to be the beginning of what formed a forum to freely post opinions on Iran, As a matter of fact Dr. Marandi had a lot to do with it since he was hosting Levreets in Iran and exposing them to educated Iranian opinions and security concerns. I have to say throughout these years he has made learn about Iran and her security concerns. He is very well educated person (perhaps he could be best strategist for Iran) on Iran and her international policies and exposure. One can’t go wrong fallowing him on Iran matters, I read his twitter everyday as well as MOA and M.K Bahr. Fortunately we now have a lot of informed commentators that the western censorship can no longer ignore like they did Back then.
Cheers
Posted by: Kooshy | Aug 27 2022 17:02 utc | 68
@robin | Aug 27 2022 10:22 utc | 63
Thank you. I agree, we must take back the narrative.
Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 27 2022 17:56 utc | 69
Ukrainian woman falsely claiming to be a Rothschild infiltrates Trump's Mar a Lago in April-May 2021, was widely accepted and fawned over, now under investigation: "A Ukrainian woman posing as a member of the Rothschild banking dynasty successfully infiltrated Mar-a-Lago and former President Donald Trump's inner circle-and is now being investigated by the FBI and Canadian authorities.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project revealed the alleged antics of the faker - whose real name is Inna Yashchyshyn-on Friday.
Yaschyshyn, 33, told Florida socialites she was heiress Anna de Rothschild, and was 'fawned all over' by guests at Trump's private club after bragging of her Monaco property portfolio and family vineyards, it's claimed.
But the alleged scammer is actually the Ukrainian-born daughter of a truck driver called Oleksandr Yaschysyn, who lives in a neat-but-modest home in Buffalo Grove, Illinois.
Yaschyshyn is believed to have been taken to the club for the first time by a Trump donor called Elchanan Adamker in 2021-and posed for a photo with the former president the very next day.
She is accused of obtaining fake IDs-including a US passport and multiple drivers' licenses - using her fake Rothschild alter ego.
Yaschushyn faces an FBI probe over a charity she was president of called the United Hearts of Mercy. It was founded by a Florida-based Russian businessman called Valery Tarasenko in Canada in 2015, but is alleged to have been used as a front to fundraise for Russian organized crime gangs."...Daily Mail, 8/26/22...https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11149921/FBI-probing-Ukrainian-immigrant-posed-Rothschild-heiress-Mar-Lago.html
Posted by: susan mullen | Aug 27 2022 21:54 utc | 70
Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 26 2022 16:26 utc | 16
Replacing imports with domestic products is long term gradual proposition. For now, as a part of retaliation for Western sanctions that entailed massive account freezing and confiscations/nationalizations, Russia "nationalized" aircrafts leased from Western companies, few hundreds of them, so the immediate needs are to substitute Western spare parts with domestic ones and friendly imports to minimize cannibalization of planes. Thus bulk of Russian domestic flights will use Airbus and Boeing on longer distances (of which Russia has many).
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Aug 28 2022 1:58 utc | 71
Apparently, this is American position on the nuclear deal with Iran (citing Oil Price, Aug 16):
OilPrice.com has been told: “We are not going to change a single word or add a single comma in the current draft [of the new version of the JCPOA] on the table.” The only thing that the U.S. will now accept from Iran is – in essence – the neutering of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which it is seeking to do via Iran signing up to the regulations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and then to becoming a fully-regulated and constantly-monitored FATF member.
With its 40 active criteria and mechanisms in place to prevent money laundering (an activity that is vital to the IRGC’s activities across the world) and nine criteria and mechanisms in place to do the same for the financing of terrorism and related activities (a core of the IRGC’s role in promoting Iran’s brand of Islam around the globe), the FATF has swingeing powers to wield against individuals, companies, or countries who transgress any of its standards and is extremely aggressive in using them by degrees, depending on whether the sanctioned entity is on its ‘grey’ or ‘black’ list. A sure sign of the U.S. has reached the end of the line regarding Iran is that – as of now – even if Iran does sign up to the FATF, Washington will not remove the designation of the IRGC as a ‘Foreign Terrorist Organisation’ (FTO) immediately, as it had promised a while ago, but will keep the damaging designation in place for at least two years, whereupon it will be reviewed, a senior source close to Iran’s Petroleum Ministry told OilPrice.com exclusively last week.
------------------------
The line between American diplomacy and insanity seems to be like that: not every insane American action is related to diplomacy, but every diplomatic action is insane. Alas, stupidity is contagious as it spreads through a myriad of "Atlanticist institutions". There is some hope that they will share the fate of mythological Atlantis, sink under the ocean waves, so future generations will explore ruins of think tanks on abyssal plains.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Aug 28 2022 2:26 utc | 72
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😄😄😄
Posted by: Ali | Aug 26 2022 14:17 utc | 1