Trump steps up bid to strangle Iran was for Saudi's pleasure; political researcher

Eckart Woertz is a senior research fellow at CIDOB, the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs talked with ILNA News agancy about U.S sanctions. he believe that currently there are only major primary sanctions by the US, but not by the other powers that underwrote JCPOA (EU, France, Germany, UK, Russia, China). However, the US inflicts secondary sanctions on companies of other countries that do business with Iran. 

Below is his interview with ILNA:

ILNA:Due to the devastating flood in Iran, US sanctions have prevented many aid from entering Iran. How do you justify this behavior?

- Currently there are only major primary sanctions by the US, but not by the other powers that underwrote JCPOA (EU, France, Germany, UK, Russia, China). However, the US inflicts secondary sanctions on companies of other countries that do business with Iran. Although food and medicine are exempted from the US primary sanctions, the economic fallout such as lack of trade finance or currency depreciation affects the ability of Iran to import such items.

The reasoning of the Trump administration to abandon JCPOA and inflict renewed comprehensive sanctions against Iran is not shared by the other signatories, as Iran continues to be compliant with the JCPOA stipulations. The EU has also implemented INSTEX, a special purpose vehicle to circumvent US secondary sanctions and offer opportunities to trade freely with Iran.  As these sanctions are limited and targeted they have arguably not affected the ability of Iran to import humanitarian goods.

ILNA:Is it true that ordinary people would be the victims of political decisions?

- Since the devastating collateral damage of comprehensive, multilateral economic UN sanctions against Iraq from 1990 to 2003 there has been a rethink of international sanctions schemes towards targeted sanctions that target particular groups and individuals rather than entire economies. In practice, however, the civilian population is often affected, too, albeit indirectly.

ILNA:Given Iran's role in countering terrorism and a group such as ISIL, What justification do you consider calling the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist?

- Iran has helped the Iraqi government to fight ISIL and deserves credit for this. However, it also has supported the Assad gpverment in Syria. Although the EU disagrees with a lot of the regional policies of Iran, it doesn’t consider it wise to classify the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization and rather prefers to dialogue and negotiate with Iran.    

ILNA:Trump's decision to take action against the IRGC, What consequences can it have? 

It is unwise and might lead to further escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

END