U.S. senators seek to cut Iran's oil sales in half - again

[alp227]

Source: Reuters

Fresh U.S. sanctions over Iran's disputed nuclear program being debated behind closed doors in the Senate aim to slash the country's oil sales in half within a year of the plan being signed into law, an influential senator said this week.

Robert Menendez, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told a meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in New York on Monday that a package of sanctions ready to move in his chamber has a goal of cutting Iran's current oil exports to no more than 500,000 barrels per day.

The reduction being sought is about 500,000 bpd less than a more severe bill passed by the House of Representatives in July, which aimed to slash exports to nearly zero.

The Senate bill, which has yet to be introduced by the banking committee, has been widely expected to be weaker than the House bill, which some analysts had said was not realistic.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/30/us-usa-iran-sanctions-idUSBRE99T00C20131030

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Other US coverage of this US/Iran story:
Politico, Kerry, Lew to lobby against new Iran sanctions
Haaretz, Jewish Democrats vs. Jewish Republicans on new Iran sanctions
AP, White House meets with Jewish groups on Iran

Iranian news coverage:
Tehran Times, Failing to pursue diplomacy on Iran’s nuclear program would be irresponsible: Kerry
Press TV, Obama should counter Israel’s pressure over Iran: Journalist
Press TV, Kerry says US will not succumb to 'fear tactics' over diplomacy with Iran

Recent similar stories:
New York Times (10/18), White House Weighs Easing Iran Sanctions’ Bite With Slow Release of Assets
Reuters (10/24), White House presses Senate to delay new Iran sanctions
The Guardian (10/25), US lead negotiator calls for delay in new Iran sanctions as nuclear talks continue
Washington Post (10/27), Iran's oil industry is trying for a comeback
Time (10/28), White House Spars With Congress Over New Iran Sanctions

[MindMover]

1. I appreciate the thoroughness of your reporting ... ty ...nt

[blkmusclmachine]

2. .

.

[ReRe]

3. K&R

Thanks, alp227. You do an awesome job with your posts. As far as Menendez. I don't know what it is about him, but he turns me the wrong way here lately.

[ConcernedCanuk]

4. "the United States of America, as a responsible nation to all of humankind"

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.
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eh? - - "a responsible nation to all of humankind"

USA ain't even responsible to its OWN "humankind"

From one of thelinks in the OP
____________________________________________________________________________________


Failing to pursue diplomacy on Iran’s nuclear program would be irresponsible: Kerry


http://www.tehrantimes.com/politics/111801-failing-to-pursue-diplomacy-on-irans-nuclear-program-would-be-irresponsible-kerry

/snip/

Kerry made the remarks on Monday night in response to Israel’s demand for tighter sanctions against Iran.

The United States has “an opportunity to try to put to test whether or not Iran really desires to pursue only a peaceful program and will submit to the standards of the international community in the effort to prove that to the world,” Ynet New quoted him as saying, according to the Washington Times.

“I suggest that the idea that the United States of America, as a responsible nation to all of humankind, would not explore that possibility would be the height of irresponsibility.”

/snip/
___________________________________________________________________________________

All the existing sanctions are already making the Iranian citizens suffer, and they also have no great affection for the USA, Israel et al because of this. More sanctions surely will only make the situation worse - even just the suggestion of more sanctions is surely going to enrage them even more.

The new administration is TRYING to resolve differences, albeit I suspect Iran's military and others would do otherwise.

I certainly would not blame Iran one bit for acquiring nukes any way possible.

The USA and Israel would not be barking so loud if Iran had its own nukes, and Iranians know this. Ya think the Iranians missed the Iraq farce? Ya think the Iranians haven't noticed USA's lack of invasion into North Korea to effect regime change?

Besides - all these sanctions are without any real PROOF of USA's and Israel's claims - and Israel alone has more than enough nukes to turn Iran into a wasteland many times over.

Regardless of what is or what is not - USA and/or Israel are gonna mess with Iran sooner or later;

as George Carlin said - "We just can't stand not to be fuckin' with someone!"

So very true.

(sigh)

CC

[karynnj]

6. Though the sentence is convoluted, it is a very strong statement against AIPAC

and Netanyahu's position. Rather than quibbling about whether the US is "responsible", you ignore that Kerry is saying that not exploring diplomacy would be the height of irresponsibility. Yet that is just what AIPAC wants. I can think of NO administration person who has more clearly rejected the push to war against Iran -- and he has done so continuously since at least 2004.

This would actually be a good time to lobby Senators and Congressmen to vote against an unwise increase in the sanctions -- which has the potential of closing any diplomatic opportunity. This would support Kerry and the rest of the Obama administration.

[Steviehh]

5. Frown and promise war, higher energy prices

The new/old Israeli campaign.

Gas prices are falling guys, stop the war!!!!!!!

[karynnj]

7. Fantastic set of links

Here is another one that I found trying to get an alternative link for the Haaretz story that has a very good analysis of the Jewish organizational response. http://mondoweiss.net/2013/10/leaders-criticize-netanyahu.html

Here is an excerpt:

Of course you would think Iran policy involves all of us, and that our Secretary of State should be free to criticize foreign leaders who slam our policymaking. But who counts the most: the official Jewish community, the Israel lobby (whose existence has been repeatedly pooh-poohed in the mainstream press).

It doesn’t matter that the men who came to the White House are rightwing hawks, Obama must conciliate them. He is feeling the heat from Foxman, and apparently too from rightwing funder Sheldon Adelson, who is urging Obama to nuke Iran– which NPR says is part of a campaign by conservative critics to scuttle the Iran opening.
<snip>

1. Is it now anti-Semitic for Kerry to criticize Israel in public, even obliquely, according to ADL?
<snip>
3. No J-Street at the White House? That’s a curious omission to the Guest List. Is J-Street not considered among the Jewish leaders or not interested in Iran policy?

I am a Jew who has been a member of JStreet for years. A Vermont friend who went to the recent JStreet conference in DC took the time to see Peter Welch and Pat Leahy. They told them that JStreet's lobbying is becoming far more effective. From their web site, their position on Iran supports the Obama administration http://jstreet.org/blog/post/j-street-welcomes-dentprice-letter-to-obama-urging-renewed-diplomatic-efforts-to-prevent-a-nucleararmed-iran_1 I suspect they were not included because the other groups may have insisted on their not being there.

I strongly recommend that Jews here check out JStreet and if they can in good conscience join, join. (I know many here are more likely with my daughter who is active in Jewish voice for peace - which is to the left.)

This may be an important time to call Congressmen and Senators demanding they give diplomacy a chance - and reject more sanctions at the time of first potential thaw in relations.