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View Full Version : Sanctions: Obama tells Iranian people to suck it up




RSLudlum
10-16-2010, 10:48 PM
US and European sanctions on jet fuel and oil are hurting the Iranian people and Obama tells them if they don't like it to do something about their government.



U.S. deal with European oil firms hobbles Iran Air

By Thomas Erdbrink
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 16, 2010; 9:38 PM

TEHRAN - A recent agreement between four of Europe's largest oil companies and the United States aimed at further isolating Iran is already having an impact, with Iran Air, the Islamic republic's national carrier, unable to refuel its planes in most of Europe.

The fueling problem follows a new push by the Obama administration to move beyond the strict letter of sanctions it imposed to a broader attempt to discourage international businesses from dealing with Iran.

It also illustrates a shift away from an earlier U.S. policy of reaching out to the Iranian people and trying to target mostly state organizations central to Iran's nuclear program. Officials now admit that the increased pressure is hurting ordinary Iranians but say they should blame their leaders for the Islamic republic's increasing isolation.

...Earlier moves to isolate Iran focused on Iranian state organizations suspected of producing a nuclear weapon such as the Revolutionary Guard Corps or the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization. But the latest sanctions, which included restrictions on the sale of refined oil products to Iran, as well as the growing pressure on businesses to steer clear of Iran, are now affecting the private sector and ordinary civilians. For example, it is becoming increasingly difficult to import items from luxury cars to raw materials.

read more here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/16/AR2010101602504.html?wprss=rss_world/mideast

amy31416
10-16-2010, 10:53 PM
US and European sanctions on jet fuel and oil are hurting the Iranian people and Obama tells them if they don't like it to do something about their government.

Good advice....we should take it.

RSLudlum
10-16-2010, 10:58 PM
Isn't it quite ironic that he is telling them to 'change' their government if they don't like the sanctions (read: REGULATIONS) his administration and Europe is imposing on their market.

Philhelm
10-16-2010, 11:56 PM
Isn't it quite ironic that he is telling them to 'change' their government if they don't like the sanctions (read: REGULATIONS) his administration and Europe is imposing on their market.

Indeed. :D

Vessol
10-17-2010, 01:56 AM
Well thank you Mr. Obama, I may just do that.

Kludge
10-17-2010, 02:33 AM
"Officials now admit that the increased pressure is hurting ordinary Iranians but say they should blame their leaders for the Islamic republic's increasing isolation."

... Yeah, that's how Iranians are going to take it - it's the fault of the Iranian gov't. Forget that all their media is tightly controlled by their government (not that I think too many would be persuaded by this awful argument by the USG even if they did hear it).

Bruno
10-17-2010, 04:47 AM
Let's see. Did most Iraqis blame Saddam for the sanctions that hurt them, or did they blame the U.S.?