U.S. Allows Eight Jurisdictions to Keep Buying Iran Oil for Now
The United States said on Friday it will temporarily spare eight jurisdictions from U.S. Iran-related sanctions, allowing them to keep importing Iranian oil after U.S. economic penalties come back into effect on Monday.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who announced the decision in a conference call, did not name the jurisdictions, but he said that the European Union as a whole, which has 28 members, would not receive one.Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin also said the United States had made clear…
UN: Fresh Oil Import Sanctions on North Korea
(Reuters) -- The U.N. Security Council on Friday unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea following its latest intercontinental ballistic missile test, a move that analysts said could have a significant impact on the isolated country's struggling economy. The resolution seeks to ban nearly 90 percent of refined petroleum product exports to North Korea by capping them at 500,000 barrels a year and demands the repatriation of North Koreans working abroad within 12 months. The U.S.-drafted resolution would also cap crude oil supplies to North Korea at 4 million barrels a year.
Democrat Clinton Would Penalize Iran for Any Nuclear Deal Violations
Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton on Wednesday said if she were U.S. president, she would impose penalties on Iran for even small violations of the new nuclear deal and would take military action if Iran tried to obtain a nuclear weapon. "We should anticipate that Iran will test the next president. They'll want to see how far they can bend the rules," Clinton said in a speech at a Washington think tank. "I'll hold the line against Iranian noncompliance. That means penalties even for small violations." (Reporting by Arshad Mohammed and Emily Stephenson)
Iran Nuclear Deal Close; Impasse Over Weapons, Missiles Persists
Iran and six world powers were close to an historic nuclear agreement on Thursday that could resolve a more than 12-year dispute over Tehran's nuclear ambitions, but they remained deadlocked on the issue of Iranian arms and missile trade. Over the past two weeks, Iran, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China have twice extended a deadline for completing a long-term deal under which Tehran would curb sensitive nuclear activities for more than a decade in exchange for sanctions relief.
U.S. Official: Can See Way to a Good Iran Nuclear Deal
A good nuclear agreement with Iran is possible but it remains to be seen whether a deal would be reached, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official, speaking to reporters, was hopeful about an agreement. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry flies to Vienna on Friday and is expected to begin meetings with the other six nations involved in the talks on Saturday ahead of a self-imposed June 30 deadline. The nations include Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. (Reporting By Arshad Mohammed)
No Iran Sanctions Relief Before End 2015
Sanctions relief for Iran under a potential nuclear agreement would not take place before the end of this year under the best-case scenario, German Ambassador to the United States Peter Wittig said on Tuesday. Wittig was speaking at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington. The French ambassador to the United States, Gerard Araud, also said it was possible there might be a "fuzzy" end to the Iran negotiations even if an agreement is reached in late June or early July. Technical annexes spelling out the details might need to be finalized after a wider agreement is reached, he said.
Arctic Nations to Fight Climate Change Despite Russia Tensions
The eight Arctic Council nations pledged on Friday to do more to combat climate change that is shrinking the vast frigid region, with countries trying to put aside disputes over issues like Russia's intervention in Ukraine. Meeting in the Canadian town of Iqaluit, 300 km (200 miles) south of the Arctic Circle, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States pledged to work to address emissions of black carbon and methane. Both are seen as particularly harmful to the Arctic, whose sea ice this year was the smallest in winter since satellite records began in 1979, according to U.S. data.
Iran Nuclear Talks Advancing, But No Deal Likely
Talks on curbing Iran's nuclear program have made substantial progress, a senior U.S. official said on Friday as the White House braced for an onslaught of criticism next week from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The official told reporters many hurdles remained to reaching an agreement to restrain the Iranian nuclear program in exchange for easing economic sanctions and said he did not expect one to be reached next week. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif are to meet in Switzerland early next week just as Netanyahu comes to Washington.
Kerry to Push India to Give U.S. Companies Greater Access
Secretary of State John Kerry will push India to make it easier for U.S. companies to do business there on a trip next week that also takes him to Europe to meet officials from Oman, Iran and Bulgaria, U.S. officials said on Friday. Earlier this week, the State Department said Kerry would travel to India this weekend to attend an investment summit promoted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held in the city of Ahmedabad, in Modi's home state of Gujarat. Among the top agenda items on Kerry's trip, which is to be followed by a visit to India by President Barack Obama for India's Jan.
U.S.& Iran Meet Ahead of Deadline for Atom Deal
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will meet Iran's foreign minister and the European Union foreign policy chief in Oman on Nov. 9-10 to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue ahead of a looming deadline for a final agreement, the U.S. State Department said on Friday. Kerry's talks in Muscat, Oman with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the EU's Catherine Ashton are due to take place two weeks before a Nov. 24 deadline for Tehran and six major powers to reach a long-term agreement on Iran's nuclear program. The high-level gathering is one of series of meetings in the final weeks before the deadline.
Deadline For Iran Nuclear Deal Appears In Jeopardy
It is increasingly unlikely that six world powers and Iran will meet their July 20 deadline to negotiate a long-term deal for Iran to curb its nuclear program in return for an end to economic sanctions, diplomats and analysts say. In theory, an extension to the high-stakes talks should not be a problem if all sides want it. But President Barack Obama would need to secureCongress' consent at a time of fraught relations between the administration and lawmakers. Iran, the United States, Britain, France…
US Closer to Imposing More Sanctions on Russia
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry suggested on Thursday that the United States is drawing closer to imposing more sanctions on Russia by saying time was running out for Moscow to change its course in Ukraine. "The window to change course is closing," he told reporters. "(Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin and Russia face a choice. If Russia chooses the path of de-escalation ... all of us will welcome it. But if Russia does not, the world will make sure that the costs for Russia will only grow." (Reporting By Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Putin set on defusing Ukraine crisis
Foreign ministers from East and West will try to defuse the Ukraine crisis on Thursday in Geneva, once frequently the scene of Cold War negotiations, but will risk being upstaged by Russian President Vladimir Putin. With Russian troops massed on the border with Ukraine, prospects of significant progress at the four-way talks appear slim. By contrast, what Putin says during his annual "hotline" session with the Russian people may have far greater influence on events in Ukraine's rebellious east. Thursday's talks will bring the ministers of Russia…
Washington Slams Moscow for 'False Claims' list on Ukraine
The U.S. making in order to justify its operation in Ukraine following Moscow's annexation of the Crimea region last month. making about Ukraine. entitled "Russian Fiction: The Sequel. Moscow dismissed a similar list issued on March 6 as a "primitive distortion of reality", cynicism and double standards. and Russia was fomenting unrest there. "What is going on in eastern Ukraine would not be happening without Russian disinformation and provocateurs fostering unrest. through their overtly threatening presence," the statement said. evidence showing significant movement of Russian forces away from the border.
US Sanctions 7 Crimean Separatists, Gas Company
The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday imposed sanctions on seven Crimean separatists and a Crimea-based gas company, Chernomorneftegaz, in connection with Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. The step, announced in a statement, is the third round of U.S. sanctions in connection with the Ukraine crisis and aims to take a hard line ahead of talks among senior U.S., Russian, Ukrainian and EU officials in Geneva on Wednesday. (Reporting By Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli)
US Says Iran Oil Exports in Line with Sanctions
The United States on Friday dismissed suggestions that Iran was exporting much more oil than it is allowed to sell under a preliminary nuclear deal with world powers and predicted that aggregate Iranian oil sales would meet targets set for Tehran. The remarks from a senior U.S. official came ahead of a new round of senior-level negotiations between Iran and the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia in Vienna on April 8-9. It will be the third round of talks this year in the Austrian capital on a long-term deal with Iran.
