ID :
137013
Tue, 08/10/2010 - 16:09
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http://m.oananews.org//node/137013
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Sanctions against Iran, a threat or an opportunity?
Tehran, Aug 10, IRNA – When the Iranian nation was seeking nationalization of its oil industry, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) issued its first resolution against Iran which was liaisoned by the British lobby.
That specific juncture in the history of the Iranian nation offered a golden opportunity for Iran to free itself from dependence although it brought heavy economic pressures and threats for the country.
After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, too, the country has been facing various economic, scientific and political sanctions. At the present stage, Iranians are dealing with severe pressures by the US, European countries and the UNSC for their persistence on their right to peaceful nuclear technology.
Experts believe that these pressures have aspects and characteristics which have never been explicitly manifested in the rhetoric used by those who orchestrate the sanctions.
Dr Rajab Safarov who heads the Center of Russian-Iranian Program in Moscow, Mrs. May Sobhi Khansa, the author of the book “the right to return” who is also a law expert and heads a movement called the International Coalition against Impunity and Nazim Omar Dabbagh who represents the Iraq’s Kurdistan government in Tehran were three analysts who took part in an online debate by IRNA to discus the issue of “sanctions against Iran, a threat or an opportunity?”
Excerpts of the discussion follow:
* How do you view the sanctions against Iran?
- Safarov: The sanction by the US against Iran after the ones endorsed by the UNSC is against law. The European Union’s behavior in blindly following the US in this, too, is a wrong decision which could even encourage the European businessmen to doubt their statesmen.
- Khansa: The US unilateral sanctions against Iran is a clear case of violation of human rights as based on these sanctions, sale of airplanes and their spare parts to Iran has been banned. According to figures, over 1,500 people have lost their lives in the past 25 years in air accidents in Iran due to these sanctions. This is the result of the US sanctions against Iran.
- Dabbagh: Sanctions against Iran are questionable in terms of international laws. Big powers should have a similar approach towards all countries and nations. They should not look for false reasons to attack Iran’s peaceful nuclear programs. All, even the big powers, should abide by international laws.
• How do you assess the chain sanctions by the West against Iran?
- Rostamov: Iran’s independence-seeking spirit is the main source of concern for the West in dealings with Iran. West is worrying that Iran, given its tremendous scientific achievements, should become a role-model for other countries in seeking independence.
- Dabbagh: While condemning development of nuclear arms in the world, I stress that things said against Iran’s nuclear program are not document-based and are merely false accusations.
• How are sanctions diverting international bodies and organizations from functioning well and conducting their main and original duties?
- Khansa: Sanctions against Iran are politically-motivated. Some of West’s leading economic figures like the head of France’s Total have admitted to this fact.
- Safarov: The insistence of western officials on their concerns regarding militarization of Iran’s nuclear activities while simultaneously a number of other western official keep stressing the peaceful nature of these programs is only a political bluff which serves the ultimate goal of stopping Iran from gaining access to and developing the latest technological know-how.
• In what ways is the international political community influenced by sanctions against Iran?
- Khansa: The chances are rather low that the US President Barack Obama would succeed in exerting unilateral sanctions on Iran’s oil and gas sector. One should remember that Brazil, Russia, India and China, as a newly emerging bloc in economy and diplomacy, have repeatedly stressed their opposition to the sanctions. On the other hand, we have Turkey that has been against the sanctions since the very beginning.
• What is the orientation of international sanctions in face of the existing realities in the world?
- Khansa: sanctions are definitely unfair and Israel is the one which rightfully deserves sanctions.
• What are the actual outcomes of sanctions in your opinion?
- Dabbagh: In the past three decades, sanctions have always failed to reach their objectives.
- Khansa: Both the Iranian government and nation have proved that they are capable of managing sanctions on their banks and also overcome those on the energy sector.
- Safarov: Such restrictions could never halt Iran’s progressive trend. By each sanction, Iran reduces dependence on West and the new sanctions, too, would only lead to more independence.
Outline:
Participants in the discussion believed that:
1. Sanctions are unilateral and clearly violate international laws as well as human rights
2. Iran’s will for independence is the main reason for West’s pressures
3. The US and West are manipulating laws, organizations and international bodies in the service of their double-standard policies
4. There is a new diplomacy emerging in the world which opposes sanctions against Iran
5. West is not aware of the echo of its own voice/ sanctions are against the law of free trade
6. International sanctions are wrong-oriented/ Israel is the one to be sanctioned
7. Resistance, convergence and awareness is the key for the Iranian nation to overcome sanctions/end
That specific juncture in the history of the Iranian nation offered a golden opportunity for Iran to free itself from dependence although it brought heavy economic pressures and threats for the country.
After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, too, the country has been facing various economic, scientific and political sanctions. At the present stage, Iranians are dealing with severe pressures by the US, European countries and the UNSC for their persistence on their right to peaceful nuclear technology.
Experts believe that these pressures have aspects and characteristics which have never been explicitly manifested in the rhetoric used by those who orchestrate the sanctions.
Dr Rajab Safarov who heads the Center of Russian-Iranian Program in Moscow, Mrs. May Sobhi Khansa, the author of the book “the right to return” who is also a law expert and heads a movement called the International Coalition against Impunity and Nazim Omar Dabbagh who represents the Iraq’s Kurdistan government in Tehran were three analysts who took part in an online debate by IRNA to discus the issue of “sanctions against Iran, a threat or an opportunity?”
Excerpts of the discussion follow:
* How do you view the sanctions against Iran?
- Safarov: The sanction by the US against Iran after the ones endorsed by the UNSC is against law. The European Union’s behavior in blindly following the US in this, too, is a wrong decision which could even encourage the European businessmen to doubt their statesmen.
- Khansa: The US unilateral sanctions against Iran is a clear case of violation of human rights as based on these sanctions, sale of airplanes and their spare parts to Iran has been banned. According to figures, over 1,500 people have lost their lives in the past 25 years in air accidents in Iran due to these sanctions. This is the result of the US sanctions against Iran.
- Dabbagh: Sanctions against Iran are questionable in terms of international laws. Big powers should have a similar approach towards all countries and nations. They should not look for false reasons to attack Iran’s peaceful nuclear programs. All, even the big powers, should abide by international laws.
• How do you assess the chain sanctions by the West against Iran?
- Rostamov: Iran’s independence-seeking spirit is the main source of concern for the West in dealings with Iran. West is worrying that Iran, given its tremendous scientific achievements, should become a role-model for other countries in seeking independence.
- Dabbagh: While condemning development of nuclear arms in the world, I stress that things said against Iran’s nuclear program are not document-based and are merely false accusations.
• How are sanctions diverting international bodies and organizations from functioning well and conducting their main and original duties?
- Khansa: Sanctions against Iran are politically-motivated. Some of West’s leading economic figures like the head of France’s Total have admitted to this fact.
- Safarov: The insistence of western officials on their concerns regarding militarization of Iran’s nuclear activities while simultaneously a number of other western official keep stressing the peaceful nature of these programs is only a political bluff which serves the ultimate goal of stopping Iran from gaining access to and developing the latest technological know-how.
• In what ways is the international political community influenced by sanctions against Iran?
- Khansa: The chances are rather low that the US President Barack Obama would succeed in exerting unilateral sanctions on Iran’s oil and gas sector. One should remember that Brazil, Russia, India and China, as a newly emerging bloc in economy and diplomacy, have repeatedly stressed their opposition to the sanctions. On the other hand, we have Turkey that has been against the sanctions since the very beginning.
• What is the orientation of international sanctions in face of the existing realities in the world?
- Khansa: sanctions are definitely unfair and Israel is the one which rightfully deserves sanctions.
• What are the actual outcomes of sanctions in your opinion?
- Dabbagh: In the past three decades, sanctions have always failed to reach their objectives.
- Khansa: Both the Iranian government and nation have proved that they are capable of managing sanctions on their banks and also overcome those on the energy sector.
- Safarov: Such restrictions could never halt Iran’s progressive trend. By each sanction, Iran reduces dependence on West and the new sanctions, too, would only lead to more independence.
Outline:
Participants in the discussion believed that:
1. Sanctions are unilateral and clearly violate international laws as well as human rights
2. Iran’s will for independence is the main reason for West’s pressures
3. The US and West are manipulating laws, organizations and international bodies in the service of their double-standard policies
4. There is a new diplomacy emerging in the world which opposes sanctions against Iran
5. West is not aware of the echo of its own voice/ sanctions are against the law of free trade
6. International sanctions are wrong-oriented/ Israel is the one to be sanctioned
7. Resistance, convergence and awareness is the key for the Iranian nation to overcome sanctions/end
