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Subscribe to RSSThe United States on Thursday gave China and Singapore six-month reprieves from sanctions over importing Iranian oil.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton commended the two Asian countries for "significantly" reducing the oil purchases. Eighteen other governments have received similar waivers designed to pressure Iran to curb its nuclear program by choking off its oil revenues.
The West believes Iran aims to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran says its nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes such as generating electricity and medical isotopes.
Reductions by all 20 countries showed that Iran was paying a high price for its nuclear program, Clinton said.
"Their cumulative actions are a clear demonstration to Iran's government that Iran's continued violation of its international nuclear obligations carries an enormous economic cost," Clinton said in a statement.
“According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Iran's crude oil exports in 2011 were approximately 2.5 million barrels per day, and have dropped to roughly 1.5 million barrels per day, which in real terms means almost $8 billion in lost revenues every quarter,” she said. “When the European Union oil embargo goes into effect July 1, Iran's leaders will understand even more fully the urgency of the choice they face and the unity of the international community.”
Alexander F. Yuan / AP
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is shown in Beijing on May 4.
Belgium, Britain, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, India, Malaysia, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Turkey earlier received waivers.
The latest waivers came as an American deadline arrived for banks to stop processing petroleum transactions with Tehran.
China buys up to a fifth of Iran's oil exports and Singapore buys Iranian fuel oil.
The Republican chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said the Obama administration was giving Beijing a "free pass."
"The administration likes to pat itself on the back for supposedly being strong on Iran sanctions," said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, of Florida. "But actions speak louder than words, and today the administration has granted a free pass to Iran's biggest enabler, China, which purchases more Iranian crude than any other country."
Technical talks over Iran’s nuclear program resume in Turkey next week.
This article includes reporting by Reuters and The Associated Press.
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...and the clock continues to tick. Each second the Iranains are getting closer to having nuclear weapons and strengthening their defenses against pre-emptive strikes.
Any "strike" by America would be devastating, it doesnt matter if its today, tomorrow or in 20-30 years. We are the military super-power of the world, they might develop nukes, but what does the timer on your "clock" read till they would EVER be able to defend any military attack from America?
Id rather cut 1/3 of their oil experts and make 'em cry mercy than send in 200,000 U.S. troops to start another war getting American solders killed, just tickin' off the radicals to retaliate more against us.. Keep it diplomatic for once.
Iran will take at least 10 years to get the nuclear weapons. If Iranians need urgently, they can buy/steal from Pakis!
Before Iraqi wars, many were gung ho on "ticking" and so on. At least some never learn from past.
This sanctions on Iranian oil and oil price manipulations from $40 in 2009 to around $100 currently is a cruel joke on those devastated by Iraqi and Afghan wars!
IRAQ WARS
Net results of Saudi, Kuwait, UAE, oil companies and their lobbyists directed 1991 and 2003 Iraqi wars are
WINNERS
1. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and other rich ME sharks became richer by manipulating oil prices too high.
2. Oil companies and their lobbyists also benefitted. Oil prices, which were hardly $30 a barrel before 1991, shot up to $140 a barrel.
3. Since 2003, future traders, rating agencies, Wall Street and oil companies and their lobbyists transferred five trillion dollars from oil importing countries to oil exporting nations.
4. Rich Sunni ME sharks (Saudi Arabia in particular) funded Salaffi and Wahhabi mosques and Islamic radicals and terrorists all over the world. These Sunni Islamic radicals and terrorists are rampaging all over the world. World’s 80 percent of problems are due to them.
LOSERS
1. General US and European nations’ public. There have been high unemployment, cut in welfare measures, housing market collapse and more miseries. Since 2001, US spent three trillion dollars on Iraq and Afghan wars. Did the Saudis and co foot the bill?
2. Poor soldiers killed and injured and their families. In Iraq and Afghan wars 6300 soldiers were killed and 40000 injured.
3. High budget deficits and heavier borrowing. Many nations (PIIGS) and people are on line to bankruptcy!
4. Iraq will plunge into bloody sectarian civil wars leading to the creation of Shiastan, Sunnistan and Kurdistan. Here the losses are of Iraqis.
Iran is surrounded by 'hostile forces', to the east, Afghanistan and the 'peace keepers', to it's west, Iraq and more peace keepers and 'oil seekers'. America has shown the world how 'powerful' it is, it is losing the Afghanistan war, and it's not the first war it will run away from, with it's tail between it's legs.
The Government of Iran is a nasty one, the Iranians are wonderful people. If NO COUNTRY has the BOMB, NO OTHER COUNTRYNEEDS the bomb, just as the gun situation in the US of A. Countries need oil, keeps the clogs turning.
Hilary Clinton is living in the past, what would she do if China kept importing Iranian oil??? NOTHING. The so called 'World Power', couldn't do a thing. Keep dreaming Hillary.
China is the low price leader of the world, which commands respect. You can't really fault them over a small offense. They bravly provide low cost goods to the world, which the rest of the world should take note, on the amount of production they are able to do. No wonder they do so well, while the world struggles.
Why should this administration change their ways now ? As with every other " Important " accomplishment with this group, after selling it as " Everybody must participate ", it seems even while his lips are still moving, he immediately begans writing waviers to exempt groups!
At this rate, US commands/dictates will last only few years. Too many wars and threats end up with no caring much!
The days of US world domination, dictates what others can or cannot do and imposes her value on their is closing to an end.
China says NO to USA and this will be followed by other rising nations.
I think if you want a big problem with China and you force deprive them of anything the Chinese government will act against us the United States of America. I guess THEY ( whoever they are ) has got it figured out that cutting Irans exports of oil will hurt them. Then the other side of the coin is these countries who are dependent on forgein oil must still get it somewhere. And that somewhere is of course from Irag. I don't know I'm just guessing. Another thing is no matter what is happening Iran is on it's course to do what it wants regarding it's Nuclear Program. I think if history shows us anything they are timing right after our November elections to do or say something. Look how Iran handled the situation when they were holding Americans prisioners when Jimmy Carter was in office and the day Ronald Reegan took office. They released the hostiages to Reegan on is first day as President. These Iranians and there government have plenty of tricks up their sleeves. I don't trust them. I think Israel knows what will happen if THEY try to go after Irans Nuclear faucilities so that won't happen. Israel will be busy enough trying to stop Irans missile attacks and defend them selves from the Iranian air force and army. Is there never an end with these guys?
@Fran NJ
Iran will end up being the last of the dictatorially and despotically run countries if the course continues as it is. This is a good thing. People of the world WANT their say, want governments that represent THEM, and are willing to fight for it. FINALLY !
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All part of the more grand scheme of things and a $1000 chip for the table at the talks coming up on Saturday. The Fat5 should show a concerted direction in what will be expected for Turkey and Syria.
This is was expected by everyone, for different reasons, but it puts Putin even further out in left field if he chooses to back Assad now.
For Iran, the sanctions have already cost them over $13 billion, and that is just the start.
Hope Assad has his toothbrush packed. Fast exit is his best chance of survival.
I wonder how much we can expect the blowback on Iran once the Sunni nations all have democracies?
These sanctions are like obamacare,you got juice,you get "waivers".
obamasanctions
Oh please, this isn't U.S world domination. As the single super power of the world we are obligated to keep certain countries in check. Iran is ran by a lunatic. If we allowed them to build nukes it would be a disaster. Someone has to keep the peace, and as I said as a the strongest country in the world, it is our obligation to do so.
If it is your job to keep peace why don't you order Israel to get rid of her nukes. You allow one Middle Eastern Power to get nukes and order another one not to. Iran is ran by a lunatic? And United States were run by a retard who could barely read for two consecutive terms. If you have a responsibility towards the world why don't you make sure that no moron gets elected in your country. Bet Lil' Bush could not locate his own country on a map, let alone Iraq which he invaded illegally.
Don’t be under too many illusions!
Iraq is in a mess. At least clean it up before talking of Syria and Iran!
US, Britain, and many European nations are in a economic mess due to greedy Saudi and oil companies high oil price manipulations using Iraqi wars as an excuse.
PIIGS and heavy US debts are due to Iraqi and Afghan wars!
Even imposing sanctions on Iranian oil by some meaningless inventions like in Iraq and manipulating oil prices from $40 in 2009 to current $100 levels is having its impact.
Too many wars are bad for a nation including the US.
There are times when we have to focus inside instead of taking sides as Saudis want in Syria, Iran and other places.
Syria, Iran and many other ME Muslims nations' Shiites vs Sunni battles are not our problems. Let them handle them for a change like in Bahrain.
At this rate even soldiers may end up getting IOU to be paid after getting more loans from China!
"US Spares China, Singapore from sanctions". Spares China, the US spares China? What a line of ridiculous propaganda from the Capitalist media. The United States backed down on it's threat to implement sanctions on China because those sanctions would have started a trade war and other retaliations by China that would have sent the United States economy back into a depression. And thats the truth not this hogwash from MSNBC.
So it is more appropriate to have the headline read, "US backs down on China sanctions, China spares the US from economic calamity".
MSNBC is so full of bull you could not dig out of it with a bull dozer.
McCarthy, totally agree. I am definite the Chinese government is laughing hysterically. To China this is simply another sign of American world control peacekeeping while watching eroison in their own back yard. USA, go ahead and sanction China and see the results of the ignorant judgement.
Hmmm, let me get this right. We are giving China a free pass. The three major powers in the world, U.S, Russia and China, and we think we can stop China from buying the Iranian oil? Come on people, how dumb are we. They'll do what ever they want, because they can, just like us.
i wonder what kind of fiancial blackmail the U.S. uses to get others to tow the line at their own expense. more miltiary aid maybe to suppress their populations?
good for China, that way they can keep buying cheap oil from Iran.
China is not subservient to American irrational and Imperialistic Foreign Policy.
"China defies US-engineered oil embargoes on Iran:
"China is always against one country's unilateral sanctions on another country, according to its domestic law. It is even less acceptable for such unilateral sanctions to be imposed on a third country," said Hong Lei, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, on Friday.
The remarks by Hong come a day after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the US’ decision to exempt China from Washington’s unilateral sanctions on oil trade with Tehran, falsely claiming that Beijing had reduced oil purchases from Iran.
The allegation by the US official came despite the fact that China, which is one of the largest crude importers from Iran, actually increased its oil purchases from the Islamic Republic by 34.5 percent in May in comparison with the previous months, according to China’s customs data."
If it looks and smells like shyte, well, its shyte.
I'm confused, is Obama Black, White or just Yellow?
Yes here we go again lets kiss the ass of the REDs hell we should turn another virus lose over there. A good purge would help there over population problem
Sanctions work...look at Cuba 50 years later!