Washington Tells EU Firms: Quit Iran Now
UK, French and German companies begin pullout under US pressure.
Multinational companies are coming under increasing pressure from the US to stop doing business with Iran because of its nuclear programme. European operators are facing threats from Washington that they could jeopardise their US interests by continuing to deal with Tehran, with increasing evidence that European governments, mainly France, Germany and Britain, are supporting the US campaign.
It emerged last night that Siemens, one of the world’s largest engineering groups and based in Germany, has pulled out of all new business dealings with Iran after pressure from the US and German governments. This follows the decision by Germany’s three biggest banks, Deutsche, Commerzbank, and Dresdner, to quit Iran after a warning from US vice-president Dick Cheney that if firms remain in Tehran, they are going to have problems doing business in the US.
The Foreign Office, while sympathising with City firms, has privately backed the US warnings in recent weeks, telling companies such as Shell and BP of the risks of continuing business with Iran. The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has urged French energy firms Total and GDF not to pursue new business in Iran. Angela Merkel, Germany’s chancellor, is joining him in pressing for new sanctions, probably at EU level.
The US is tightening its economic squeeze on Iran and last month unilaterally imposed a new round of sanctions. It regularly complains in private to the British and other European governments that American efforts are being undermined by European companies continuing to do business with Tehran. If economic sanctions fail to have an impact by next year, pressure will mount from Mr Cheney to launch air strikes against Iran.
Full Guardian article by Gow and MacAskill here.
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“…increasing evidence that European governments, mainly France, Germany and Britain, are supporting the US campaign.”
Just think…. if they’d done that back in ‘02 then we might be closer to Saddam feeling the effect of sanctions in the next year or so….. maybe?
November 8th, 2007 at 7:45 pmSanctions! Is that some code word for Bunker Busting Bombs!
November 8th, 2007 at 7:59 pmBob sanctions are the first step to bunker busting bombs.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:09 pmIn this political age that we have unwillingly been forced to endure this is the way we have to do things.
Now we just have to wait for the UN Security Council to pass 17 resolutions for Iran to violate!!
Gotta love Bush and Cheney.
November 8th, 2007 at 11:37 pmThey’re doing all the tough tasks Democrats won’t ever do.
Just think…. if they’d done that back in ‘02 then we might be closer to Saddam feeling the effect of sanctions in the next year or so….. maybe?
I wonder what was doing Rumfeld in the meanwhile
aren’there any pension fonds for your retirement that are invested in Iran, funny I was told that, or may-be you’ll have to work till dearh comes, poor pupils
November 9th, 2007 at 2:20 amNo biggy for the EUros. They’ll just go under the table, like with O-f-F.
November 14th, 2007 at 4:48 pm