In letter to Iran, Russia, Turkey, EU demands end to fighting in Syria 3/1/2018 10:33:34 PM   facebook Google+ ► Print EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini BRUSSELS (Reuters) February 28, 2018  - The  European Union  ’s top diplomat has written to the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey urging them to uphold a ceasefire in eastern Ghouta and allow aid into besieged areas. Appealing to the trio as the leaders of the Syrian peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called on them to “implement a genuine humanitarian pause for at least 30 consecutive days throughout Syria.” In the Feb. 26 letter seen by Reuters, Mogherini also urged Russia, Turkey and Iran to “take all necessary steps to ensure that the fighting stops, that the Syrian people are protected, and finally that urgent humanitarian access and necessary medical evacuations are taking place.” Mogherini said in the ...

Iran's Oil Exports to Europe Down About 40% 11/13/2017 5:46:41 PM Iranian regime oil tankers sitting idle due to drop on Irans oil export Iran, November 12, 2017  - Iran's state-run Fars news agency, affiliated to IRGC, reported a 39% reduction in Iranian oil export to Europe blaming the US for the fall in the country's oil export. The report says, “Iran's oil sales to Europe have fallen because of the U.S. threats, which has made the Europeans plan to reduce their purchases of oil from Iran despite the nuclear agreement with, known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. Iran's total crude oil and condensate exports in October will drop by about a fifth to a month earlier this month, reaching the lowest figure in the past 19 months, according to international news agencies. Iran's exports to Europe this month are expected to drop by 39% from a month earlier from 837,000 barrels to 510,000 barrels a day. Italy, Spain, Turkey an...

Trump's Iranian nuclear deal speech ricochets across the Middle East 10/18/2017 7:42:29 AM President Donald Trump White House BY RAYMOND TANTER AND ED STAFFORD The Hill, October 17, 2017  - President Trump’s  Iran strategy speech   of Oct. 13 rattled Tehran and excited a large portion of the Iranian population, including the Iranian opposition. Trump’s speech, while going over a long list of Tehran’s nefarious activities, referred to the people of Iran as the main victims of the Iranian regime. He also refrained from certifying that Iran complied with the deal but did not withdraw from the political commitment the major powers and Tehran made to abide by the accord for 10 years from Aug. 2015. After punting the decision to Congress for 60 days, research conducted for this post suggests Trump should gain congressional support to withdraw from the deal, renegotiate a better accord, and press our allies to adopt a strategy against Iran of renew...