Tehran, April 6, IRNA - White House's efforts to put pressure on Tehran and Iran's isolation in 2018 did not succeed politically and just created economic problems for the Iranian people.
The White House's efforts to put pressure on Tehran and continue isolating Iran has failed politically since May 8, 2018 when the US left the Join Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
As expected, after the American presidential election in 2016 and Donald Trump's entry into the White House, the relations between Tehran and Washington turned into darkness exponentially. The US’ withdrawal from the JCPOA as one of the most important achievements between Iran and the six world powers was the beginning of an increase in tensions between the two countries as well as the creation and deepening of the rift between the US and its longtime allies.
The report will review the most important issues between Iran and the US last year as well as the projects that the White House has managed to oppose Tehran.
** Increasing rift with Trump denial of JCPOA
In spite of the frequent opposition to Trump with JCPOA, however, he had to extend the suspension of Iran's nuclear sanctions three times, so that by imposing a series of changes in the cabinet, the platform was paved to exit the agreement. Among those changes were the use of John Bolton as senior White House adviser and selecting Mike Pomoeo as Secretary of State to replace Rex W. Tillerson.
On such occasions, Trump officially announced on 8 May that the country unilaterally abandoned the nuclear agreement with Iran; 'an agreement that had been the worst deal for the US over history'. Trump's decision was welcomed by the Israeli and Saudi officials and a few of Iran's enemies and rivals. In turn, other members of the agreement and international influential actors and bodies condemned the US measure and demanded that the US must return to an agreement that had been negotiated for more than a decade to achieve it.
Sanctions against Iran began in two phases as the US withdrew from the JCPOA. In the first round, the sanctions were enacted by Trump on June 5. The American president while signing sanctions decree against Iran, called the goal to 'import maximum economic pressure' on Iran. In this stage, sanctions hit the dollar, rial, gold and precious metals, as well as auto industry and aircraft sales to Iran.
The second round of sanctions, which began on November 4, included the oil industry, banking, navigation, insurance services and the Iranian energy sector. In the second round of sanctions known as 'secondary sanctions', individual and companies on the Iranian side of the deal were also included in the sanctions, while the United States was offering exemptions for eight countries.
** Policy of bringing to zero level export to threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz
To bring to zero level the oil exports, was the most important goal of the Trump team last year which White House officials had repeatedly pointed to it in their positions. The creation of a new entity within the State Department's structure entitled 'Iran Action Group' led by Brian Hook was in this regard to pave the way for the resumption of Iranian oil and banking sanctions.
Hook said on Monday, October 16, in Luxemburg that the goal of the government of Donald Trump, was to cut off Iran's oil exports as quickly as possible, adding that we are working with countries that reduce their imports to make sure that this is happening. Also, the head of Iran's action group on trips to countries close to the United States tried to align them with US policies, which despite the fact that Iran's exports reduced Iran's oil by about half, but the granting of US exemption for eight countries of Japan, India, South Korea, China, Turkey, Taiwan, Italy, and Greece have been a failure for the White House in pursuit of zeroing Iran's oil exports.
Of course, in retreat of the US from this project, the positions of the officials of our country affected the withdrawal of the United States. For example, President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday, December 4, in a speech in Shahroud which was broadcast live on Iran television, said, 'The US will know that we will sell our oil. It cannot stop Iranian oil exports. If the US wants to stop Iranian oil exports, oil will not be exported from the Persian Gulf.' In response to the White House tactic on zeroing Iran's oil exports, the president added that the Strait of Hormuz was to be closed to oil tankers of other states.
** Tactic of squeezing Iran from Security Council
Due to its veto power, the US is always benefiting from the United Nations Security Council to advance its policies, a trend that continued in the past year, but because of Trump’s exit of JCPOA and the US unilateralism, the White House's unusual way went nowhere.
Last year, the United States, regard of Iran, typically pursued two topics of missile and regional movements of Iran through the Council. Despite the convergence between America and Europe on the above issues, they could not restrict Tehran. Even at a meeting of UN Security Council members in December 4 behind closed doors to address the issue of Iran's missile program, it did not end the issuance of a statement, let alone a resolution.
A few days before the meeting, the US Secretary of State announced a new missile test in Iran and assessed the tested missile with nuclear capability, which is considered a violation of Security Council Resolution 2231. Earlier, Brian Hook, the United States' special envoy on Iran, said during an interview with Reuters on Iran's missile program, stated that Europe should sanction Iran's missile program, adding, 'We want to see the adoption of sanctions by the European Union against the institutions and personalities that facilitate the testing and development of Iran's missile program. Such punitive measures usually include the prohibition of travel and the blocking of assets and the prevention of the financing of such weapons programs.'
** Failure of winning consensus against Iran
In addition to the propaganda shows and moves that were taken last year by White House officials, Trump and his team, with Middle Eastern tours and an international summit, tried to isolate Iran. On the 8th of January last year, Pompeo traveled to eight countries in the Middle East, along with trips that Trump made to establish coalition against Tehran in the region, including Jordan, Egypt, the Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait.
As expected, during this eight-day visit, Pompeo's political propaganda turned around Iranophobia, and the US Secretary of State was trying to make Iran a destabilizing element of the region and to act as a unifying force.
Hence, he unveiled an international conference that was held in Poland on February 13-14, and was called the Warsaw Summit, which, although officials from nearly 60 countries were present, but influential international actors, including members of JCPOA dismissed Trump’s invitation.
The EU Troika officials, and especially Federica Mogherini, were among the great absentee. At the same time, representatives of countries such as Iran, Turkey, Russia, China, etc. did not take part in the summit, so that Trump’ consensus making project was collapsed at the first stage.
As expected, after the American presidential election in 2016 and Donald Trump's entry into the White House, the relations between Tehran and Washington turned into darkness exponentially. The US’ withdrawal from the JCPOA as one of the most important achievements between Iran and the six world powers was the beginning of an increase in tensions between the two countries as well as the creation and deepening of the rift between the US and its longtime allies.
The report will review the most important issues between Iran and the US last year as well as the projects that the White House has managed to oppose Tehran.
** Increasing rift with Trump denial of JCPOA
In spite of the frequent opposition to Trump with JCPOA, however, he had to extend the suspension of Iran's nuclear sanctions three times, so that by imposing a series of changes in the cabinet, the platform was paved to exit the agreement. Among those changes were the use of John Bolton as senior White House adviser and selecting Mike Pomoeo as Secretary of State to replace Rex W. Tillerson.
On such occasions, Trump officially announced on 8 May that the country unilaterally abandoned the nuclear agreement with Iran; 'an agreement that had been the worst deal for the US over history'. Trump's decision was welcomed by the Israeli and Saudi officials and a few of Iran's enemies and rivals. In turn, other members of the agreement and international influential actors and bodies condemned the US measure and demanded that the US must return to an agreement that had been negotiated for more than a decade to achieve it.
Sanctions against Iran began in two phases as the US withdrew from the JCPOA. In the first round, the sanctions were enacted by Trump on June 5. The American president while signing sanctions decree against Iran, called the goal to 'import maximum economic pressure' on Iran. In this stage, sanctions hit the dollar, rial, gold and precious metals, as well as auto industry and aircraft sales to Iran.
The second round of sanctions, which began on November 4, included the oil industry, banking, navigation, insurance services and the Iranian energy sector. In the second round of sanctions known as 'secondary sanctions', individual and companies on the Iranian side of the deal were also included in the sanctions, while the United States was offering exemptions for eight countries.
** Policy of bringing to zero level export to threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz
To bring to zero level the oil exports, was the most important goal of the Trump team last year which White House officials had repeatedly pointed to it in their positions. The creation of a new entity within the State Department's structure entitled 'Iran Action Group' led by Brian Hook was in this regard to pave the way for the resumption of Iranian oil and banking sanctions.
Hook said on Monday, October 16, in Luxemburg that the goal of the government of Donald Trump, was to cut off Iran's oil exports as quickly as possible, adding that we are working with countries that reduce their imports to make sure that this is happening. Also, the head of Iran's action group on trips to countries close to the United States tried to align them with US policies, which despite the fact that Iran's exports reduced Iran's oil by about half, but the granting of US exemption for eight countries of Japan, India, South Korea, China, Turkey, Taiwan, Italy, and Greece have been a failure for the White House in pursuit of zeroing Iran's oil exports.
Of course, in retreat of the US from this project, the positions of the officials of our country affected the withdrawal of the United States. For example, President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday, December 4, in a speech in Shahroud which was broadcast live on Iran television, said, 'The US will know that we will sell our oil. It cannot stop Iranian oil exports. If the US wants to stop Iranian oil exports, oil will not be exported from the Persian Gulf.' In response to the White House tactic on zeroing Iran's oil exports, the president added that the Strait of Hormuz was to be closed to oil tankers of other states.
** Tactic of squeezing Iran from Security Council
Due to its veto power, the US is always benefiting from the United Nations Security Council to advance its policies, a trend that continued in the past year, but because of Trump’s exit of JCPOA and the US unilateralism, the White House's unusual way went nowhere.
Last year, the United States, regard of Iran, typically pursued two topics of missile and regional movements of Iran through the Council. Despite the convergence between America and Europe on the above issues, they could not restrict Tehran. Even at a meeting of UN Security Council members in December 4 behind closed doors to address the issue of Iran's missile program, it did not end the issuance of a statement, let alone a resolution.
A few days before the meeting, the US Secretary of State announced a new missile test in Iran and assessed the tested missile with nuclear capability, which is considered a violation of Security Council Resolution 2231. Earlier, Brian Hook, the United States' special envoy on Iran, said during an interview with Reuters on Iran's missile program, stated that Europe should sanction Iran's missile program, adding, 'We want to see the adoption of sanctions by the European Union against the institutions and personalities that facilitate the testing and development of Iran's missile program. Such punitive measures usually include the prohibition of travel and the blocking of assets and the prevention of the financing of such weapons programs.'
** Failure of winning consensus against Iran
In addition to the propaganda shows and moves that were taken last year by White House officials, Trump and his team, with Middle Eastern tours and an international summit, tried to isolate Iran. On the 8th of January last year, Pompeo traveled to eight countries in the Middle East, along with trips that Trump made to establish coalition against Tehran in the region, including Jordan, Egypt, the Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait.
As expected, during this eight-day visit, Pompeo's political propaganda turned around Iranophobia, and the US Secretary of State was trying to make Iran a destabilizing element of the region and to act as a unifying force.
Hence, he unveiled an international conference that was held in Poland on February 13-14, and was called the Warsaw Summit, which, although officials from nearly 60 countries were present, but influential international actors, including members of JCPOA dismissed Trump’s invitation.
The EU Troika officials, and especially Federica Mogherini, were among the great absentee. At the same time, representatives of countries such as Iran, Turkey, Russia, China, etc. did not take part in the summit, so that Trump’ consensus making project was collapsed at the first stage.
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