Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Thomas Shannon, the undersecretary of state for political affairs, said reports that Iran would be allowed to deal directly with USA banks are inaccurate.
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Washington says it will not give Iran any access to the United States financial system amid its other measures to constrain Tehran’s financial relations and transactions with other countries.
When Republican Senator Bob Corker, the committee’s chairman, asked if such reports were “bogus”, Shannon answered, “As of this moment, the answer is yes”.
Iran and its allies, namely Russian Federation, have said that the launches did not violate the resolution because it “calls” on Iran, rather than banning action.
Sens. Marco Rubio and Mark Kirk on Wednesday introduced legislation to block Iranian access to the US financial system, a move meant to thwart the Obama administration.
Russia will begin the shipment of the first batch of S-300 surface-to-air missile systems within days, according to a senior Russian diplomat quoted by Interfax.
Noting that the weapons embargo against Tehran is no longer in place following a lasting nuclear deal between Tehran and six powers, the source said, “A new, authorization-based procedure of supplies of weapons and spare parts to Iran has been established”.
“There’s not congruence now at the administration level”, Corker said at a hearing on Iran.
During his appearance on MSNBC, Kerry said Iran is entitled to the full range of sanctions relief under the nuclear accord.
“These limited sanctions are too weak to affect Iran’s behavior”, AIPAC said Monday of the new sanctions, which target an industrial group involved in manufacturing the missiles, the missile command of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, and companies providing support to Mahan Air, which is affiliated with the Guards Corps.
But while Cardin wants to work with the administration to provide “a strong congressional basis for sanctions” that have already been issued by executive order, Corker is anxious administration officials will take too much liberty with their ability to waive penalties – maybe even to the point of striking another deal with Iran.
WASHINGTON (AP) Two Republican senators opposed to the Iran nuclear deal are trying to block an Obama administration proposal that would ease rules on using US dollars in trade transactions with Iran.
Shannon also defended the deal from some Republican presidential candidates, such as Texas Sen.
Such responses may prevent Iran from obtaining the financial resources that it needs to continue pursuing military and ballistic missile development, as many Iranian officials including the supposedly moderate President Hassan Rouhani have repeatedly vowed to do. Tehran’s defense-industrial base is already advanced enough to produce most of its missiles indigenously.
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Lawmakers hammered the Obama administration anew over the Iran nuclear deal Tuesday, accusing the White House of continuing to ignore Iranian ballistic missile tests that many say violate not only the spirt of the deal but United Nations resolutions aimed at deterring such tests.
