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    Iran Losing Asian Purchasers as Nuclear Sanctions Deepen

    By Shawn Humphrey | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Wed, Feb 22, 2012
    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
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    Iran is finding it increasingly difficult to buy and sell petroleum, according to Reuters .

    Following a European Union decision to halt oil imports on Jan. 23 and amid additional U.S.-led sanctions against the country, several Asian nations are cutting back purchases. The sanctions come as United Nations inspectors want to visit nuclear facilities, a program the Associated Press reports is sparking increased regional tensions.

    Here are facts and diplomatic statements surrounding the Iranian nuclear program and associated oil sanctions.

    * According to a news briefing issued by the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the EU sanctions led to the cessation of oil purchases by all French companies. The briefing states the purpose is to "persuade Iran to resume the negotiations on her nuclear (program) by addressing the concerns the (program) is arousing among the international community."

    * U.S. sanctions appear to be isolating OPEC nations. According to the sanctions, the U.S. will shut out financial institutions that work with Iran's central bank from American markets unless they receive a waiver by demonstrating they have reduced trade with Iran. Iran's central bank is the nation's primary clearing house for oil revenues.

    * China, India and Japan intend to cut their crude oil imports by 10 percent or more each, with the three nations representing nearly half of all Iran's exports. China will likely cut this year by 14 percent, India by 10 percent and Japan is negotiating with the U.S. to cut by 11 percent to win waiver from U.S. sanctions.

    * The EU oil imports embargo caused Iran to halt oil exports to France and Britain.

    * Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said a U.N. team in Tehran was composed of "experts" not inspectors and would not see nuclear facilities. Iranian state radio said the visiting team, the second in less than a month, had requested access to a military base and to speak with Iranian nuclear scientists.

    * Another report from Reuters issued a stark warning from Iran on Tuesday. Mohammad Hejazi, the deputy head of Iran's armed forces, said the country would take preemptive actions against perceived enemies, saying if they wanted to "endanger Iran's national interests, and want to decide to do that, we will act without waiting for their actions."

    Shawn Humphrey is a former contributor to The Flint Journal and an amateur Africanist, focusing his personal studies on human rights and political issues on the continent.

     

    8 comments

    • Mrbruce38
      Mrbruce38  •  Tampa, Florida  •  3 mths ago
      The people of Iran get to pay for their leaders foolish actions.
      • A Yahoo! User 3 mths ago
        Oh ya, Like we don't?
      • Mrbruce38
        Mrbruce38 3 mths ago
        Meaning quite a few of them are going to get killed and for what ?
    • US Citizen
      US Citizen  •  3 mths ago
      I hope Asia does cut ties with Iranian oil. That will be a bigger blow to the Iranians. If Russia would only stand up to Iran also then it would pretty much be Iran against the world.
      • Norman
        Norman 3 mths ago
        Russia will leave the Iranian camp faster than they left Afghanistan as soon as the first block busters fall on the nuclear facilities, China is already back pedaling from Iran, because they seem intent on pursuing a policy of self destruction. They criticized Iran yesterday for cutting off oil to France and Britain, Today they announced that they are cutting back on oil purchases from Iran, In a few days we will hear that the Chinese Ambassador to Iran has been called home for talks, taking home most of his staff and families. Putin will be on the phone with his Embassy, your mother in law is very ill, come home Tvarish. In days you will hear of a plague that is attacking relatives at home from every Embassy in Iran. Allah will phone the Ayatolla that he is going fishing and won't be around for a week or two.
    • Bill
      Bill  •  3 mths ago
      Send them newt.
    • .
      .  •  Irvine, California  •  3 mths ago
      Its a begining.............swift will kick in full a little later and it will destroy irans economy.
      • Mohammad
        Mohammad 3 mths ago
        I don't think so. We iranian peoples are not so poor you imagine. It's our right to have this energy for using in peaceful cases
      • .
        . 3 mths ago
        You have not seen its effects yet-------swift will kick in, in a couple of months---there will be no payment for oil----anything iran buys it will have to do so in cash---not rials---there will be hyperinflation ---rials will be worth really nothing as no other country trades in rial--russia says they'll give you credit for rials,but that won't last long.........unfortunately my friend iran is going to be roughly on a level with north korea.....................and as for peacefull purposes--who do you think your kidding ?????
    • Bill
      Bill  •  3 mths ago
      Never trust the Asians - specifically the #$%$ or Russians.
    • Ahora Mazda
      Ahora Mazda  •  Tehran, Iran  •  3 mths ago
      1. Iran has enough oil customers world wide. don't propaganda,please.
      2. Iran economic grow rate is at the second level in the globe in the recent year.
      3. Iran scientist research and publications is at top level in the middle east and is 12th world wide specially in nano technology,medical, bio technology and IT.
      4. Iran has a long history and have peaceful people. They never start a war along their long history.
      5. The sanctions against Iranian people will let them to grow economically and stay on their feet. Every thesis contains an anti thesis inside.
      6. The west is trying to demonstrate the sanctions have negative effects on Iran. Ok, are you happy? what wrong else with you then to propaganda and repeat it again and again!!?
      7. Who has the nuclear weapons and used it before? Who has the biggest military budget world wide? Which country spreed its forces world wide. Is it a defensive strategy or an aggressive one? Is it Iran or ....?
      8. Which country cooperate with IAEA as much as Iran did to clear that its program is peaceful? What happened then? The Iranian scientists terrorized and the IAEA is who just had the names. So, who killed them?
      9. Who cut to buy oil from Iran and caused that oil begin to rise to 106$ at the moment? why the people around the world should pay for this inept decision which is made by the west?

      Just think a moment and answer to the questions honesty.
    • Earl
      Earl  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 mths ago
      Hey...looks like China is on board. I think Russia's interest are statistical. In close proximity to its own borders. No good. We'll need to assure them that we aren't interested in confronting them. I'm more interested in smashing this Islamic terrorism thing that is spreading like terminal cancer, and I'm sure they are too.
    • Norman
      Norman  •  Akron, Ohio  •  3 mths ago
      I've said all along the details are in the definition. the inspectors are not inspectors they are experts. Maybe we should have sent some sanitary engineers to inspect the garbage. They could have took a geiger counter or two and told us they didn't get a bleeb on the garbage they inspected. But then sanitary engineers are not engineers they are garbage men some even expert garbage men. What a waste of time to send anybody to Iran, garbage men, sanitary engineers, inspectors or experts.
     Post a comment
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