Sanctions? What sanctions?
Once again, a German company has signed a huge deal with Iran, while ignoring UN sanctions against the would-be-nuclear power. This time it's the giant petrochemical company Basell Polyolefine, which signed a deal with Iran on Monday to supply technology to build three plants involving synthetic and plastic material. Iran's FARS news agency (in Persian) reports that the deal is worth 825 million Euros, which would make it the largest trade deal signed with Iran this year. Waldermar Oldenburger, a spokesman for Basell Polyolefine, told The Jerusalem Post that the company had signed the deal with the Iranian Petrochemical Company, but he declined to comment on the sum.It's way too late anyway, but this should make it clear yet again why sanctions cannot work.
When asked if the chemical deal had been approved by the German Economic Ministry, Oldenburger said he "assumed" the regulatory arm of the ministry (BAFA) had issued a green light on the deal.
In an e-mail to the Post, however, Oldenburger said the "licensing of technology to produce synthetic material does not fall under the export control of the Economic Ministry."
The transfer of chemical "dual-use" goods, which can serve both military and civilian goals, falls under the provisions of the current sanctions imposed on Iran. Basell's decision to supply chemical technology to the Islamic Republic could spell a violation of UN and EU sanctions, as well as German trade law, if the material can be applied for military purposes.
Oldenburger told the Post that the company was "selling know-how technology" and was not involved in the construction of three plants in southern Iran.
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Oldenburger declined to comment on whether the massive contract with Teheran contradicted the policy of Chancellor Angela Merkel's [pictured CiJ] administration to discourage trade with Iran and whether the deal would adversely affect the so-called "special relationship" between Germany and Israel.
The company spokesman said questions about Basell Polyolefine and its corporate responsibility to Israel because of the Holocaust were " very sensitive questions."
In a follow-up e-mail, Oldenburger wrote that "there is no relationship with respect to the Holocaust and the existing contract" with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:35 AM
1 Comments:
Sanctions can't work if every one wants to do business with Iran. And they do.
What could go wrong indeed
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