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Obama to Tighten Bush's Iran Sanctions

White House will apply pressure unilaterally on world trading

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 29, 2009 9:07 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Obama administration’s plan to sanction Iran looks a lot like that of his predecessor. Officials say that if nuclear talks with Iran fail, they will likely tighten enforcement of Bush sanctions rather than impose new ones, the Washington Post reports. Obama has even retained the top architect of Bush’s effort, Treasury Undersecretary Stuart Levey, to ensure continuity. Their goal: make it difficult for Iran to trade with the world.

To that end, they plan to target insurance companies that back Iranian shipping operations, and companies that avoid trade restrictions by routing goods through Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, or Hong Kong. Those measures could be in place by New Year’s, but beyond that, the administration’s options are limited, because it doesn't want to do anything unilaterally that will interfere with building a consensus among governments to put pressure on Iran.

Barack Obama, Gordon Brown, and Nicolas Sarkozy leave the stage after making a joint statement on Iran's nuclear facility, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, during the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh.
Barack Obama, Gordon Brown, and Nicolas Sarkozy leave the stage after making a joint statement on Iran's nuclear facility, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, during the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad looks at his watch as President Barack Obama addressed the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009.
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad looks at his watch as President Barack Obama addressed the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Barack Obama, followed by Gordon Brown, and Nicolas Sarkozy arrives to make a statement on Iran's nuclear facility, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, during the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh.
Barack Obama, followed by Gordon Brown, and Nicolas Sarkozy arrives to make a statement on Iran's nuclear facility, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, during the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
thejoint00
Sep 30, 2009 5:35 AM CDT
-- wait I wrote this then I saw that the title was "White House will apply pressure unilaterally on world trading" but all I saw was " the administration’s options are limited, because it doesn't want to do anything unilaterally that will interfere with building a consensus among governments to put pressure on Iran." and the pressure will be on insurance compainies for shipping operations and companies that all ready avoid Iran's sanction. No where does this article or any other article say that Obama is putting any sanctions on Iran. very mis-leading.
thejoint00
Sep 30, 2009 5:32 AM CDT
Except that the old president would work unilaterally if it was necessary and this one has his hands tied by the nations that he is trying so hard to suck up to. Meanwhile Iran can do whatever they want
thejoint00
Sep 30, 2009 5:18 AM CDT
your hatered seems well placed and there are many out there that would agree with your theories. However, names like "prompter-in-chief," "Dissembler-In-Chief" and "pretend-president," are disconcerting and detrimental to your views and to the views of other respondants who would normally agree with you.

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