Israel Matzav

Israel and US preparing new sanctions against Iran

Israel and the United States are preparing new sanctions against Iran in the event that, as seems likely, the June 18-19 talks in Moscow do not produce an agreement on Iran's nuclear weapons program.

David Cohen, the U.S. Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, arrived in Israel on Sunday for talks with top Israeli diplomatic and security officials. Cohen's discussions related to sanctions against Syria and monitoring of the flow of money to terror organizations.

Cohen, who coordinates the U.S. sanctions policy against Iran, said in an interview with Haaretz that the U.S. and Israel are discussing a new list of sanctions against Iran. "We are working with our partners, including the Israelis, to talk about additional steps to enhance the pressure," Cohen said.

"We have today and over the past years had very close cooperation with the Israeli government across a range of our sanctions programs. They are a very good partner. They are creative. They are supportive and we will continue to consult with the Israelis."

A well-placed Israeli official said that Cohen will meet during his visit with Mossad chief Tamir Pardo, IDF Intelligence head Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, national security adviser Yaakov Amidror, Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer and top foreign ministry officials. The source confirmed that the U.S. and Israel have taken up staff work to draft a possible new list of sanctions against Iran, in the event that the June 18 negotiations between the six powers and Tehran break down.

In the interview, Cohen indicated that new sanctions would be imposed should these negotiations fail. "The important point for the Israeli public to understand and for the Iranian leadership to understand is that if we are not able to make progress on the diplomatic track there is additional pressure that can be brought to bear on the pressure track. If we don't get a breakthrough in Moscow there is no question we will continue to ratchet up the pressure," he said. As things stand, starting on June 28 any country that purchases oil from Iran and relays payments to its central bank will face sanctions imposed by the U.S. government. In order to avoid the U.S. sanctions, states will have to prove that they have reduced the import of oil from Iran. On July 1, the European Union's oil embargo on Iranian oil will go into effect.

Cohen goes on to claim that the sanctions have been effective. And yes they have been effective in making havoc of the Iranian economy. But they haven't been effective where it counts: Iran is still pursuing nuclear weapons. And even new sanctions don't seem likely to be effective either.

What could go wrong? Read the whole thing.

Labels: Iran sanctions regime, Iranian nuclear threat

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:35 PM