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The Iran Sanctions Waiver Debate

Jubin Katiraie
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The Iran Sanctions Waiver Debate

The Iran Sanctions Waiver Debate

By Jubin Katiraie

Donald Trump’s national security team is divided over whether to extend the sanctions waivers on Iranian oil that they granted after reimposing sanctions on the country last November. The waivers are due to expire in May, but it is unclear whether they will be renewed and with his advisors divided, it may be up to Trump to make the final call.

John Bolton and National Security Council favour dropping the waivers and getting even tougher on Iran and removing the waivers, highlighting that oil prices are considerably low at the moment and are unlikely to rise too much. A spokesman said that agencies are coordinating to increase the pressure on Iran, which could include by removing sanctions waivers. The Energy Department also believe that it is time to turn up the heat on Iran.

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New US Sanction on Iran’s Nuclear Program

Staff Writer
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New US Sanction on Iran’s Nuclear Program
New US Sanction on Iran's Nuclear Program

Iran Focus

London, 26 March – In May 2018, Donald Trump pulled the US out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and reimposed sanctions on Iran, citing that the agreement failed to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, rather only delaying it until 2024.

In order to put pressure on Iran to come back to the table for a new deal that did stop them from creating a nuclear weapon, the US State and Treasury Departments put numerous sanctions on Iran.

Most recently, they levied sanctions against 31 entities and individuals linked to the Organization for Defense Innovation and Research (SPND), a military institute that US officials allege is maintaining nuclear weapons expertise under the guise of a civilian nuclear program.

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The Hezbollah-Venezuela Relationship

Staff Writer
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The Hezbollah-Venezuela Relationship

Iran Focus

London, 26 Mar – The Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group could have its illicit activities in Venezuela disrupted due to the ongoing political and humanitarian crises besieging the country, according to some analysts.

For years, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro maintained a close relationship with Hezbollah and Iran, which empowered Hezbollah in terms of both money and influence. Now, the group can raise money through illicit means and funnel it through financial hubs in Central and South America.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: “People don’t recognize that Hezbollah has active cells — the Iranians are impacting the people of Venezuela and throughout South America. We have an obligation to take down that risk for America.”

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German Court Bars Der Spiegel From Printing Lies About Iran Opposition

Staff Writer
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German Court Bars Der Spiegel From Printing Lies About Iran Opposition

German Court Bars Der Spiegel From Printing Lies About MEK/PMOI

Iran Focus

London, 26 Mar – The Hamburg Regional Court banned weekly German Magazine Der Spiegel from spreading lies about the Iranian opposition last week.

This decision was reached following the injunction application made by the German representative office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) after Der Spiegel published a defamatory article in February about the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and its members in their settlement in Albania.

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The New Mechanisms Being Used by Iran to Circumvent US Sanctions

Pooya Stone
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The New Mechanisms Being Used by Iran to Circumvent US Sanctions

The New Mechanisms being used by Iran to Circumvent US Sanctions

By Pooya Stone

With the United States’ withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which is known as Iran nuclear deal, and the renewal of economic sanctions imposed on Iran, trade with European economic partner states has been severely limited, causing Iran to experience a crisis within its economy.

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US Strike Deal With Oman to Stop Iran Threats Over Waterways

Staff Writer
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US Strike Deal With Oman to Stop Iran Threats Over Waterways

Strait of Hormuz

Iran Focus

London, 25 Mar – On Sunday, the United States made a strategic port deal with Oman that will provide the US military with better access to the Gulf region and reduce the need to send ships through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, according to US officials.

This is important because, in the wake of the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement and imposing sanctions on Iran’s oil, Iran threatened to shut off the Strait of Hormuz, which is just off Iran’s coast. Given that 20% of the world’s oil supply travels through the waterway, this could mean huge delays or shortages as tankers find an alternative route, which would only increase oil prices.

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Pompeo: Lebanese Leaders Want Iran out of Their Politics

Jubin Katiraie
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Pompeo: Lebanese Leaders Want Iran out of Their Politics

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, shakes hands with Lebanese President Michel Aoun

By Jubin Katiraie

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that all the Lebanese authorities he met during his visit to Beirut on Friday believed that it was important to keep their country’s political power out of Iran’s “meddlesome” hands.
The problem is that Iran-backed Hezbollah currently holds a lot of political power in Lebanon.

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Germany’s Policy of Appeasement Only Emboldens Iran

Mehdi Hosseini
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Germany’s Policy of Appeasement Only Emboldens Iran

Richard Grenel, ambassador to Germany, along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Democrat leader

By Mehdi

In a warning to Berlin, the Trump administration announced that it may scale back intelligence sharing if Germany allows the Chinese technology company, Huawei, to build Germany’s new 5G infrastructure.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel immediately shot back, saying that Germany would “set its own security standards.”

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Iran: Human Right Situation Is Still a Major Concern

Pooya Stone
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Iran: Human Right Situation Is Still a Major Concern

Flogging in public in Iran

By Pooya Stone

Iran Human Rights (IHR) has published its 11th annual report on the death penalty in Iran. The death penalty is still be used as a means of punishment in Iran and the rate of execution per capita is very worrying.

Iran is one of the few countries in the world that carries out executions in public – a practice that is ordered by the authorities and a practice that human rights organisations have constantly criticised.

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Iran Missile Program Destabilizing Middle East

Staff Writer
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Iran Missile Program Destabilizing Middle East

Iran testing ballistic missiles

Iran Focus

London, 20 Mar – U.S. President Trump said that Iran is defying a U.N. Security Council resolution by carrying out ballistic missile testing, as well as two satellite launches since December. Iran’s missile program and its regional meddling are reasons he cited when he pulled the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions last May.

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