"Artificially forcing the situation": what could the new attempts of Washington to put pressure on Iran

Washington extended restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program. This was reported on the official website of the US Department of State.

“Today, Secretary of State Pompeo extended the sanctions on the Iranian regime’s nuclear program. These actions will help preserve the supervision of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, reduce the risks of proliferation of nuclear weapons, limit Iran’s ability to reduce the time for its creation and prevent the regime from re-equipping existing facilities for purposes related to developing nuclear weapons, the Foreign Ministry said.

It is also noted that Iran is "the state most actively supporting terrorism," which allegedly "continues to use its nuclear program to blackmail the international community and create threats to regional security."

The State Department also said that the United States is determined to close Iran’s any way to possess nuclear weapons and is ready to use “the entire arsenal of diplomatic and economic means” to limit Iran’s nuclear activities.

“As long as the Iranian regime refuses diplomatic interaction and continues to expand its nuclear program, economic pressure and diplomatic isolation will only increase,” the statement says.

On the eve of the US Treasury announced the inclusion of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in the sanctions list of Washington. Restrictions of this kind involve freezing of its assets in the United States, as well as a ban on US citizens or firms from doing business with people who are under the restrictions of the White House.

At the same time, Pompeo explained the imposition of sanctions against Zarif by his “involvement in the lawlessness of the regime” against his citizens. The head of the foreign ministry wrote about this on his Twitter page.

Recently, President @realDonaldTrump sanctioned Iran’s Supreme Leader, who enriched himself. Today, the US designated his chief apologist @JZarif. It’s just like that it’s a complicit of the khamenei_ir’s mafia. pic.twitter.com/XhDdqR6rik

However, the US Secretary of State said that the White House allegedly intends to continue to try to conclude a deal with Iran.

“The United States will continue to strive for a diplomatic solution that would solve the problem of the destructive behavior of the Iranian regime. The only way to move forward is to work out a comprehensive deal that would cover the whole range of such threats, ”the State Department press service quoted Pompeo as saying.

In response to Washington’s actions, Jawad Zarif stated that he and his family would not be affected by Washington’s sanctions, since they do not have property outside of Iran.

"The reason why the United States contributed me (to the sanctions list - RT ) is that I am the main representative of Iran in the world ... Thank you for considering me a great threat to your agenda," Zarif said on his Twitter page.

I am Iran’s “primary spokesperson around the world”
Is this truth really that painful?
It has no effect on me or my family, as I have no property or interests outside of Iran.
Thank you for considering me such a huge threat to your agenda.

In turn, the Democratic leader in the Senate Intelligence Committee of the United States, Dian Feinstein, criticized the decision of the American authorities regarding the Iranian foreign minister. In a statement posted on the official website of the politician, she called this measure erroneous. According to Feinstein, the actions of the White House "further aggravate the already tense situation."

Their regret in response to the actions of Washington expressed in the European Commission.

"For our part, we will continue to work with Zarif as the highest-ranking Iranian diplomat, given the importance of maintaining diplomatic channels," the EC representative quoted RIA Novosti as saying.

• Javad Zarif
• Reuters
• © Carlo Allegri

Washington applies its classic carrot and stick approach to Iran, expert of the Center for Security Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Konstantin Blokhin said.

“First, the White House puts pressure on the republic, artificially forces the situation, and then urges it to sit down at the negotiating table, but to solve the problem on American terms,” the analyst explained in an interview with RT.

According to the expert on the Middle East, MSU professor Alexander Vavilov, Washington is taking controversial actions against Iran, since the United States has limited pressure on the republic.

“Iran is a country that is difficult to act on by force. Now the White House has extended the restrictions and introduced new sanctions, but they will not work this time either, since Tehran has enough opportunities to resist them, ”the expert emphasized in an interview with RT.

Visibility of international support

Washington’s recent actions against Iran are far from the first attempt to put pressure on the republic.

So, last week at the initiative of the United States began the formation of an international coalition to patrol the Strait of Hormuz. This was stated by Pompeo in an interview with WFTV 9. According to him, it is necessary that the trade and sea routes “remain open”. The US Secretary of State also noted that the union will consist of states "from all over the world" who, together with the American side, are planning to bring about changes in the behavior of the Iranian authorities. At the same time, the foreign minister clarified that the White House still does not plan to start a war with Iran.

“We just want them to stop engaging in terrorist activities around the world. It’s impossible for them to continue work on the development of nuclear weapons, ”Pompeo said.

• Mike Pompeo
• Reuters
• © Yuri Gripas

Recall, the situation in the Gulf region became aggravated after the British oil tanker Stena Impero was detained on July 19 by the Corps of Revolutionary Guards in the Strait of Hormuz for violating international maritime law and colliding with an Iranian fishing vessel.

According to Alexander Vavilov, the creation of an international coalition on the initiative of Washington is intended to further destabilize the situation in the Persian Gulf zone.

“Washington will continue to conduct its aggressive rhetoric and make new attempts to put pressure on Iran, but now it’s not profitable for US President Donald Trump to get involved in a major conflict, because he wants to go for a second term,” the analyst said.

As Konstantin Blokhin notes, Washington will try to create the appearance of having international support on the Iranian issue.

“The White House will try to strengthen its rear, to get the approval of its allies. This is, first of all, Israel and Saudi Arabia. The UK is also ready to play along with Washington - this was especially evident after the incident with the tanker, ”the expert said.

The United States needs this support, since the White House itself has discredited itself, having left the ADF unilaterally, Blokhin believes.

“Such a measure caused bewilderment and a wave of criticism throughout the world. Now, Trump needs to give weight to his position on the Iranian issue and show that this is not his whim, but the consolidated opinion of the major powers, ”the analyst explained.

According to HSE professor Dmitry Yevstafyev, Washington is acting in relation to Iran in accordance with the principle of “informational and political impudence”, reinforcing such an approach with military force instruments.

“Then the United States will wait for one or another political elite to show weakness. If this happens, access to American capital on favorable terms for the Iranian oil and gas sector will be imposed on the republic, ”the professor predicted.

"Cool the ardor of American politicians"

However, according to analysts, Tehran will not succumb to the pressure of Washington and will adhere to its independent line.

The US failed to put pressure on Iran, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in mid-July during a speech in the North Khorasan province.

“For 14 months, the world's largest economic and military power has imposed the most severe sanctions against the Iranian people, sanctions that could overthrow any other nation,” Iranian television channel Press TV quoted Ruhani as saying.

The Iranian President also noted that the “heroic, vigilant and steadfast” people of Iran adequately endured the pressure of the White House.

“Whatever way Americans go, be it social, political or legal, they all led to failure,” Rouhani said.

According to Konstantin Blokhin, the US tactics to exert pressure on Iran did not work.

“The information-psychological war against the republic, which Washington has launched, has been going on for 40 years, and the Iranian side is used to it,” the expert explained.

Nevertheless, if the US continues to pressure Iran, and Europe in the Iranian issue will follow Washington’s fairway, Iran will have no other choice but to begin the process of transition to full-scale uranium enrichment and restore its nuclear program to the level it had before SVPD, says Blokhin.

“At the same time, Iran can be understood: the republic was limited by tough sanctions pressure, so Tehran’s space for maneuver is reduced. Such a move by Iran will be called upon to cool the ardor of American politicians who, without stopping the pressure and aggressive rhetoric, do not come up with concrete proposals, ”the analyst said.

• Iranian President Hassan Rouhani
• Reuters
• © Abdullah Dhiaa Al-Deen

Dmitry Yevstafyev also does not exclude that Tehran may in the future emerge from the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan amid ongoing pressure from Washington.

“However, at this stage it is inexpedient, since for Tehran the preservation of a favorable attitude towards itself of European countries is a matter of principle. And for the EU, in turn, it is very important to preserve Iran’s participation in this agreement, ”the expert concluded.