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TOP STORIES
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed that part of
Washington's overall strategy in the Middle East is aimed at
expelling Iran and its forces and militias from Syria. "Our
strategy is designed to prevent that from happening," Pompeo
said during his testimony at a congressional hearing on the State
Department's budget review on Wednesday in which several congressmen
spoke on their concerns about the US troop withdrawal from Syria and
the possibility of Iranian influence strengthening there.
The United States is keen to see that Malaysia,
Singapore and others are fully aware of illicit Iranian oil shipments
and the tactics Iran uses to evade sanctions, a top U.S. sanctions
official said on Friday. Sigal Mandelker, under-secretary of the
Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, told reporters in
Singapore the United States had placed additional "intense
pressure" on Iran this week.
The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a
resolution Thursday naming terrorist financing a serious crime and
demanding that all countries set up a domestic legal framework to
counter the practice. The U.N.'s counterterrorism chief Vladimir
Voronkov said the resolution came at a critical time, as terrorist
attacks around the globe have demonstrated that groups like Islamic
State and al Qaeda have continuing access to vast financial revenues.
NUCLEAR DEAL & NUCLEAR PROGRAM
In her March 5, 2019, statement to the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on the subject of
monitoring and inspection in Iran, U.S. Ambassador Jackie Wolcott
stated that "[t]he United States welcomes the Director General's
February 22 report on verification and monitoring in Iran. We once
again extend our appreciation to the Director General, and . . .
[his] staff for their continued dedication in carrying out their
responsibilities in Iran..."
The proponents of Iran's nuclear deal are criticizing
the new sanctions imposed on Iran's nuclear program by the US last
week. The Treasury and State Department unveiled measures against 14
individuals and 17 entities that are linked to the Iranian Ministry
of Defense. These entities are reportedly associated with Iran's
attempts to build nuclear weapons.
Nearly half of Middle Eastern survey respondents say
they are skeptical that Iran has stopped working to achieve nuclear
weapons, according to a poll taken by Israel's Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and reported by the Hebrew daily Israel Hayom. The
latest survey conducted by professional pollsters on behalf of the
ministry found that 43% of Middle Easterners say Iran did not stop
its nuclear program. The number of North American respondents who
believe similarly is also high at one-third or 33%.
SANCTIONS, BUSINESS RISKS, & OTHER ECONOMIC
NEWS
A court in Luxembourg has ruled against a group of Sept.
11 victims in a novel lawsuit seeking $1.6 billion in Iranian assets,
bringing to a head a long growing disagreement about a significant
question of international law: Should governments be immune from
lawsuits even when they are accused of responsibility for terrorist
attacks? For decades after World War II, as the modern international
order was established, the United States stood in alignment with the
world by restrictively interpreting "sovereign immunity,"
the principle that people generally cannot sue governments.
The United States placed additional "intense
pressure" on Iran this week, a top U.S. sanctions official said
Friday. Sigal Mandelker, under-secretary of the Treasury for
Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, told reporters in Singapore she
would stress the inherent risks in dealing with Iran in meetings over
coming days with government officials in Malaysia, Singapore and
India.
Japanese refineries have put a halt on imports of
Iranian oil after buying 15.3 million barrels between January and
March ahead of the expiry of a temporary waiver on U.S. sanctions,
according to industry sources and data on Refinitiv Eikon. The
waiver, which allowed Japan to buy some Iranian oil for another 180
days, expires in early May. However, Japanese refiners want to ensure
enough time for all cargoes already loaded to arrive in Japan and for
payments to be completed.
A top U.S. sanctions official is in Asia to push efforts
to increase pressure on Iran, saying Washington was intent on making
Tehran "radioactive to the international community." Sigal
Mandelker, the U.S. Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and
financial intelligence, said in Singapore on March 29 that she would
stress in further meetings this week with officials in Malaysia,
Singapore, and India the risks involved in dealing with Tehran.
Iran's trade
generally declined in the first two months of 2019, largely due to
less oil exports and a substantial reduction in imports, due to its
ongoing economic crisis. Iran's exports to U.S. reached zero during
January 2019, while its imports from the United States plunged to
$4.5 million, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, released
March 28. The monthly trade turnover between the two countries stood
at the lowest level since 2000.
Iranian foreign
ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi has downplayed US warnings on a
possible stop of waivers from sanctions on Iran's oil imports.
Washington "will not achieve all its objectives," Qasemi
was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA on Thursday. "The
policy of the United States is that we are not looking to grant any
new oil waivers," Brian Hook, the US special representative for
Iran, said this week.
IRANIAN INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency is reporting
that the death toll from flash floods across the country has risen to
44 from 17. The Thursday report quotes Hamidreza Khankeh, an official
in the country's emergency medical services agency, as saying 44
people have died since Monday in 10 provinces. Since March 19, many
roads in Iran have been affected by heavy rainfall that caused flash
flooding.
IRANIAN REGIONAL AGGRESSION
Saudi Arabia relies
on the principle of preserving sovereignty and stability of States in
dealing with Arab issues, while Iran incites regional crises in order
to break the unity of Arab states, stressed Saudi Ambassador to Egypt
and Permanent Representative at the Arab League Osama bin Ahmed
Naqli. The Ambassador indicated that this also applies to the
Kingdom's endeavor to get an independent Palestinian state
established on the 1967 border with East al-Quds as its capital, in
accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy and the
Arab peace initiative.
RUSSIA, SYRIA, ISRAEL, HEZBOLLAH, LEBANON & IRAN
US President Donald Trump's March 21 decision to
recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights has sparked
widespread international reaction. While European countries announced
that they would not follow suit, Russia expressed
concern over the "negative repercussions" of the move.
Turkey adopted a more active stance, calling for an emergency
meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Trump's
announcement was also met with negative reactions from Arab
allies of the United States.
As the dust settles after the last week of escalation
between Israel and Gaza, neither Hamas nor Netanyahu have managed to
score a substantial victory or breakthrough.
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