Professor at the Lebanese International University in Beirut, Jamal Wakim, pointed out that the administration of Barack Obama is about to run for reelection and “They cannot present any concession to Iran as a sign of weakness.”
“That’s why they need to address indirectly AIPAC, which is highly influential in US politics, in order not to jeopardize their relations with AIPAC and at the same time come up with fruitful results with Iran — especially since Obama was resisting pressures to go into confrontation with Iran, which would have damaged his campaign for reelection,” Wakim explained.
On Monday, the US Senate endorsed a new package of oil and economic sanctions against Iran over the country’s nuclear energy program.
The measure will target foreign banks carrying out transactions with Iran’s national oil and tanker companies. It also includes measures to close potential loopholes in the existing sanctions that would permit Iran to continue selling its crude oil.
The House of Representatives passed its version of the bill in December and now the Senate and House must reconcile their differences in the legislation.
The pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC strongly supported the proposed sanctions.
The new round of sanctions came just two days before Iran and the P5+1 — China, Russia, Britain, France, the US and Germany — began negotiations in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Wednesday.
AGB/HGH/AZ
Related posts:
Views: 0