Iran Focus

London, 23 Jun – People with knowledge of the matter say that going beyond the reductions that were demanded when sanctions were imposed earlier this decade, the U.S. has now asked Japan to completely halt oil imports from Iran. But, during talks with Japanese counterparts in Tokyo earlier in the week, no decision was reached. Asking that not to be identified because the matter is confidential, they revealed that discussions will continue later.

After his decision to renew sanction against Iran, U.S. President Trump’s administration gave allies 180 days to reduce purchases from the OPEC producer.

Iran Focus

London, 22 Jun – According to senior French sources, the European signatories of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal have been primarily focused on “avoiding a military confrontation,” after the US exit from the pact.

Inside Iran, some “want and seek” this confrontation, they say, but Germany, Britain and France, in cooperation with Russia and China, want to avoid reaching the “point of no return.”

The sources also blame Tehran for failing to take advantage of the nuclear deal. Instead of normalizing its ties with regional countries, it forged an aggressive regional policy and developed its ballistic missile program.

Iran Focus

London, 21 Jun – After meeting Jordan’s King Abdullah in Amman on Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said European countries shared concerns over Iran’s ballistic missile program and called for solutions to its “aggressive tendencies” in the Middle East. The German Chancellor said, “Iran’s aggressive tendencies must not only be discussed, but rather we need solutions urgently.”

She also announced 384 million euros ($445 million USD) of aid to Jordan this year.

Iran Focus

London, 21 Jun – The CEO of French energy giant Total said on Wednesday that no big oil company can risk doing business with Iran under reimposed US sanctions.

Although Total has yet to permanently pull out of Iran, where it planned to develop a section of the world’s largest natural gas field, CEO Patrick Pouyanne was pessimistic about his company’s future in the country. The company is prepared to abandon this project unless they can obtain a sanctions waiver, which doesn’t seem likely.

Iran Focus

London, 21 Jun – The new US ambassador to Germany has requested that the German government block Iran’s Mahan Air from flying in German airspace and landing in Germany because the airline provides material support for terrorism.

In a meeting with a senior delegation from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) last week, Ambassador Richard Grenell said: “I have asked the German government to support our efforts to stop an airline called Mahan Air from utilizing German airspace and airports. We know that Mahan Air has been used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC] as a mode of transport for weapons, resources and fighters, so we’re asking our allies to help us put a stop to it.”