Iran 02 (May 18 - Dec 26)

[behappyalways]

Israel's Iran documents show nuclear deal 'was built on lies'

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43958205

[winston]

S Officials: Israel Preparing For War With Iran, Seeking US Support

by Tyler Durden

Source: Zero Hedge

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05- ... us-support

[winston]

Iran may try diplomacy but it could circumvent Trump sanctions with help from China and Russia

As President Trump promises renewed sanctions on Iran, the Middle Eastern country may first try diplomacy but could also seek help skirting U.S. sanctions from other parties to the deal, particularly Russia and China.

Iran also faces unrest at home, and the failed nuclear agreement is a strike against President Hassan Rouhani, raising concerns more hard-liners could force the restart of Iran's nuclear program.

Only about 300,000 barrels of Iranian oil may be forced off the market, with Europe cutting back less than it did in the prior round of sanctions and China possibly increasing its purchases.

by Patti Domm

After the move by Trump, companies would have 90 to 180 days to wind down existing contracts with Iranian companies.

"While Chinese compliance is probably a nonstarter, we do anticipate a high degree of cooperation from European, Japanese and South Korean corporates despite their host government's opposition to the U.S. move."

Source: CNBC.com

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/08/iran-ma ... tions.html

[winston]

Iran fires rockets at Israeli army bases in Golan Heights

Military exchange follows Trump’s withdrawal from nuclear deal

According to the Israeli military, Iran’s Quds Force, the expeditionary unit of the Revolutionary Guards, launched 20 artillery rockets into the Golan Heights.

Israel said that some of the rockets were intercepted and shot down by its Iron Dome missile defence system.

A few got though and caused “some damage” to Israeli military installations but no casualties.

The Israeli army said it hit back by striking “dozens” of Iranian sites in Syria, targeting intelligence, storage and logistics as well as the origin of the rockets.

US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell said that German companies doing business in Iran “should wind down operations immediately” before sanctions were reinstated in 90 days.

France said that the European Union was ready to take the US to the World Trade Organisation if Washington went ahead with plans to hit European companies. The WTO can be asked to settle disputes among members and allow them to impose sanctions.

Another proposal being considered is an EU “blocking regulation” of the kind used in 1996 to deny legal status to US sanctions on European companies doing business with Libya, Cuba and Iran.

Source: The Times

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news ... -0gv8hnp3g

[winston]

Israeli Airstrike In Syria Was “Most Extensive Attack In Decades”

by TYLER DURDEN

Some 28 Israeli aircraft fired around 60 air-to-surface missiles at Syria during the exchange.

Israel also launched roughly 10 surface-to-surface missiles, which struck military targets near Damascus and in Southern Syria.

The Golan Heights is widely seen as Israeli-occupied territory after it was taken from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War.

Source: Zero Hedge

http://www.thetradingreport.com/2018/05 ... n-decades/

[winston]

China rebuffs Donald Trump’s efforts to isolate Iran with refusal to stop oil imports

Beijing rejects request to stop buying Iranian crude after US quit nuclear deal

Beijing has, however, agreed not to ramp up purchases of Iranian crude. That would ease concerns that China would work to undermine US efforts by purchasing excess oil.

While the Trump administration has said it wants to cut Iranian oil exports to zero by November 4, most analysts viewed that target as unlikely.

Unfazed, the administration has warned that even allies would face sanctions if they did not show “significant” progress in reducing Iranian oil purchases by November 4, ruling out broad exemptions or waivers.

China – the world’s top crude buyer and Iran’s main customer – lifted monthly oil imports from the country by 26 per cent in July. It accounted for 35 per cent of Iranian exports last month.

Source: SCMP

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diploma ... olate-iran

[winston]

Iran could answer US sanctions with cyberattacks

Source: Market Beat

https://www.marketbeat.com/articles/exp ... e=ARNDaily

[behappyalways]

After Sanctions, Iran’s Economy Is Nearing a Crisis
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... -breakdown

[winston]

Middle Eastern Tensions

According to my source network, Iranian leadership is preparing more forceful responses to the impending renewal of U.S. sanctions.

These will include:
1. Moves in southern Iraq to utilize Iraqi exports as a vehicle for Iranian oil consignments,
2. Support for Houthi attacks on the Bab el-Mandeb, the strait connected to the Red Sea through which western Saudi oil exports move to market -holding a more volatile move to impede traffic through the eastern Strait of Hormuz in reserve for the moment,
2. And usage of surrogates to erode the U.S. potion in Syria.

This may get very nasty.

Source: Oil & Energy Investor

[behappyalways]

2018.12.09【文茜世界周報】美「為嚴厲制裁」滿月　伊朗嗆封荷姆茲海峽
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lBSl0o ... -pKgdwMSAU