Iran Focus

London, 21 May – Insurance companies from around the world are now taking time to assess how the US withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal and the subsequent threat of imposing sanctions on companies that do business with Iran will affect them.

While global insurers wait for guidance from the United States and European Union, many are now making contingency plans for all possible outcomes.

Illinois insurance broker Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. said on Friday that they will be monitoring developments closely, while the Zurich-based Swiss Re said that it would be “assessing the impact” of the US decision on its business activities.

Iran Focus

London, 20 May – Some of Europe’s biggest firms rushed to do business with Iran after the nuclear deal took effect. Now, after President Trump’s withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal, European businesses are worried that their ties with the US could be damaged if they continue doing Iranian deals.

The present White House believed that the Iran deal was only a temporary deferral of nuclear activity in exchange for billions in funding for Iranian proxy warfare — appeasement only made the aggressor more aggressive.

To effectively roll back Iranian armament and expansionism, it appears that White House policy toward Iran has become more harsh, and only works if Europe shoulders its share of the economic burden.

Iran Focus

London, 18 May – On Wednesday, industry sources said that European refiners are already experiencing difficulties in shipping Iranian crude, as shipowners have begun to avoid this route for fear of falling foul of US sanctions.

Just a week after President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, European tanker owners fear secondary sanctions from the US. According to a US Treasury Department fact sheet, international buyers of Iranian oil must wind down contrast by November 4th, when the US will reimpose sanctions on the oil, energy, shipping, and insurance sectors.