BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFP) — The US has granted Iraq a three-month extension to a sanctions waiver allowing it to import Iranian gas, an Iraqi official told AFP Monday. The move represents a welcome reprieve for a country that relies heavily on its neighbour for energy supplies. Iraq buys gas and electricity from Iran to supply about a third of its power sector, worn down by years of conflict and poor maintenance and unable to meet […]
Tag: Sanctions
US piles on sanctions pain against Iran
by Sebastian Smith Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States piled new sanctions on Iran’s already crippled economy Friday and defended the killing of a top Iranian leader, saying he had been planning an “imminent” attack on US embassies. The sanctions, announced at the White House, marked the latest salvo in a US-Iranian confrontation that risked sliding into war a week ago with the deadly US drone attack on general […]
DOJ: Convicts freed on account of GCTA law can surrender without sanctions up to 11:59 p.m. today
(Eagle News)–Persons deprived of liberty who were released under the Good Conduct Time Allowance law can surrender without any sanctions up to 11:59 p.m. today, Sept. 19. Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said after 11:59 p.m., those who did not surrender will be re-arrested. “This day, we will be transmitting a new list to the (Department of the Interior and Local Government) which will serve as their guide in implementing the rearrest of those who didnt […]
Despite apology, President Duterte wants “appropriate sanctions” vs crew of Chinese vessel in Recto Bank incident
(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte wants “appropriate sanctions” against the crewmen of the Chinese vessel that rammed a Filipino fishing boat and abandoned the Filipino fishermen in open sea. Duterte, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said, made the remark during his bilateral meeting with China President Xi Jinping even after the owner of the Chinese vessel apologized for the June 9 incident. The apology was contained in a letter signed by Chen Shiqin, president of the Guangdong […]
Four Chinese indicted for evading US weapons sanctions on N.Korea
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Four Chinese nationals have been indicted for financial dealings with North Korean companies sanctioned for involvement in the production of weapons of mass destruction, the US Justice Department said Tuesday. Ma Xiaohong, the head of Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Co. Ltd (DHID) and three top executives of the Chinese company were indicted by a federal grand jury in New Jersey, the department said in a statement. The other three […]
Huawei unit cuts more than 600 jobs following US sanctions
SHANGHAI, China (AFP) — Chinese telecom giant Huawei said on Tuesday that more than 600 jobs would be lost at a US unit as a result of “curtailment of business operations” caused by Washington’s sanctions on the firm and 68 of its subsidiaries. The layoffs will come at the Chinese company’s US-based research and development arm, Futurewei Technologies, which is incorporated in Texas, an email statement from Huawei said. Futurewei employs more than 750 people, […]
US seeks to ‘severely’ damage Iran economy, top UN court hears
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) — Renewed sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran aim to damage Tehran’s economy “as severely as possible”, the UN’s top court heard Monday. “The United States is publicly propagating a policy intending to damage as severely as possible Iran’s economy and Iranian nationals and companies,” Iran’s lawyer Mohsen Mohebi told the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Washington has slapped renewed sanctions on Tehran. It said they aimed […]
Four questions on Iran’s legal challenge to US sanctions
by Jan Hennop Agence France-Presse THE HAUGE, Netherlands (AFP) — Iran’s legal challenge against renewed sanctions by the United States goes before the UN’s International Court of Justice on Monday. Here are four key questions regarding the case: What is the case about? Iran’s attempt to block the reinstatement of sanctions, announced by US President Donald Trump earlier this year, is the latest in a series of court battles that Tehran and Washington are fighting […]
Russia will block US bid for UN blacklist of Russian ships over N.Korea
by Carole Landry Agence France-Presse UNITED NATIONS , United States (AFP) — Russia will oppose a US request to the UN Security Council to blacklist two Russian shipping firms and six Russian-flagged vessels over their dealings with sanctions-hit North Korea, the Russian ambassador said Thursday. The United States presented a request to a UN sanctions committee on Wednesday — its third bid in two months to seek UN action and turn up the pressure […]
Russia, China block US bid to slap N.Korea sanctions
by Carole Landry Agence France Presse Russia and China on Thursday blocked a US request to add a Russian bank to a UN sanctions blacklist along with a North Korean official and two entities, diplomats said. The United States last week asked a UN sanctions committee to slap an assets freeze on Agrosoyuz Commercial Bank for allegedly helping North Korea evade UN-imposed restrictions on financial transactions. The request also targeted Ri Jong Won, the deputy […]
Trump: reining in Iran
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — From the time of his electoral campaign, Donald Trump was one of the biggest opponents of Iran and the hard-won nuclear agreement, which he tore up in May. His stated aim is to stop Iran’s ballistic program and its influence in the Middle East. ‘Nuclear holocaust’ On August 16, 2015, the American billionnaire and Republican presidential frontrunner says that the nuclear accord with world powers will not prevent Iran from […]
Tumultuous Iran braces for return of US sanctions
by Eric Randolph with Thomas Watkins in Washington Agence France-Presse TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iranians were bracing on Monday for the return of US sanctions against the backdrop of angry protests and a corruption crackdown that are roiling the embattled government of President Hassan Rouhani. The country has seen days of sporadic protests and strikes in multiple towns and cities driven by concerns over water shortages, the economy and wider anger at the political system. […]





