US Isolated, Weaker Than Ever about Anti-Iran, Russia Sanctions
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – US recent sanctions against Iran and Russia was backfired and Washington is now seems very much isolated and weaker than ever to impose its will to its global partners in particular the European Union.
The US House of Representatives voted this week to impose further sanctions Russia, Iran, and North Korea, while limiting Donald Trump from weakening current sanctions.
That is while, the US pressures has boosted the alliance between Iran, Russia, China and their allies and each day, new agreements are inked among these countries on enhancement of political, security and economic fields.
The US-based Forbes Magazine in an article titled ‘When US Sanctions Backfire: Russia and Iran Partner Up In $2.5B Deal’ said, “Russia and Iran signed a $2.5 billion memorandum of understanding on Monday which show Tehran and Moscow’s growing partnership.”
Iran and Russia have recently been establishing economic and strategic partnerships on many fronts, including energy, infrastructure development, and military aid — along with being on the same side of the Syria crisis.
According to the speaker of Iran's parliament, Iran has also given Russia priority in any industry it wants to invest in.
Trade between Russia and Iran doubled over the course of 2016, with the sale of military equipment — such as MI-17 helicopters and various rocket systems — being some of Iran’s most sought after acquisitions. Russian oil and gas companies are also moving into Iran, with Gazprom recently being given the contract to develop the Farzad B gas field. It is estimated that the bilateral annual trade between the nations will soon spike to over $10 billion — which would be up from a paltry, sanctions-induced $1.68 billion in 2014.
Forbes Magazine referred to negative impacts of US sanctions against Iran on the country’s economy and said, “Beyond the buying and selling of Persian rugs and commercial airplanes, companies from the United States simply cannot get in on the spoils of a rapidly emerging Iran.”
In this era of mass-cross border trade and investment, the way that countries gain leverage and influence over each other is via increased economic activity and joint development projects. In this fray, the imposers of sanctions essentially take themselves right out of the game and leave everything on the table for their rivals to accumulate additional wealth and power. China knows this; Russia knows this. Putin probably owes the US congress a thank you, Forbes Magazine concluded.
Also, the British Guardian newspaper said in an article titled ‘As the US and EU Square off Over Russia Sanctions, Only Putin Can Win’ that “Europeans are dismayed by the craziness pouring out of Donald Trump’s White House.
The EU openly complained about the new sanctions against Russia adopted by the US Congress. In this episode, the EU gave the impression that it was somehow siding with Putin against the US Congress.
Two months ago Angela Merkel declared: “We Europeans must really take our fate into our own hands.” In the age of Trump and Brexit, Europe needs to stand up for itself as never before. To an extent this new stance has been on display – on climate, trade and values. But last week it no longer seemed synonymous with standing up to Trump, the Guardian daily reported.
Also in this regard, Independent Daily printed in London, said in an article titled ‘Europe Stands Ready to Act If US Sanctions on Russia Affect Its Oil and Gas Supplies’ that major international players are warning the United States against imposing further sanctions on Russia, saying that doing so could further isolate America from the world community.
Most recently, Germany and the European Union joined France and Russia in delivering a stern warning to the US. European Union President Jean-Claude Juncker said that the bloc would act ‘within days’ if it doesn’t get assurances that new sanctions wouldn’t significantly impact European interests.
The economic bloc reportedly plans on first attempting to find a diplomatic solution to concerns over the sanctions, but are prepared to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization if their concerns are not heard. The EU also plans on using an EU regulation that allows it to defend their companies against the extraterritorial measures from the US, Reuters reports.
In addition to hurting Nord Stream 2 efforts, EU regulators worry that the sanctions could impact upkeep of pipeline networks in Russia that feed into Ukraine and provide more than a quarter of the EU natural gas needs. It may also hurt diversification goals the EU has, like the Baltic Liquefied Natural Gas project.
