Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


8

Obama to Tighten Bush's Iran Sanctions

White House will apply pressure unilaterally on world trading

Share

(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)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
8 comments
VIEWING:
 
EddyTeach
Sep 29, 09 9:27 AM CDT
The second paragraph is vital. Sanctions against Iran have across-the-board failed for the last 30 years because they have been unilateral and non-diplomatic. The real option Obama has is carrots, I'm afraid. He offers: "Iran, either you can give up your nuclear ambitions and become a wealthy trade partner, or you can develop your nukes in poverty-- but you cannot have both." Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
IN RESPONSE:
Shannonals
Sep 29, 09 9:53 PM CDT
Your ignorance is stunning Webqueen. You act as if the problems with Iran just popped up overnight during this fiscal year. You need to opene your eyes and see that this is an ever going problem.
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
thejoint00
Sep 30, 09 12:18 PM 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.
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Timinator2K
Sep 29, 09 10:09 AM CDT
The problem lies with countries like France, China and too many others, they'll covertly trade with Iran and give them ANYTHING they want....just like they did with Saddam. The trading countries get trade and oil and, as an added bonus, get to watch the great fun of Iran aggravating the US and, as-soon-as-they-are-ready, nuking Israel. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+5
Jayster999
Sep 29, 09 10:32 AM CDT
Meet the new Prez, same as the old Prez... Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+1

View all 8 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

226 Stories

 Iran Kicks Off 5 Days 
 of War Games 

Drill meant to boost air defense of nuclear facilities

Nov 22, 09 7:42 AM CST
(AP) - Iran today begins large-scale air defense war games aimed at protecting the country's nuclear facilities, state television reports, adding that the five-day drill will cover a third of the country, including regions that are home to Iran's nuclear facilities. The drill involves both Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard, the paramilitary Basij... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iran • war games • nuclear program • Basiji • Natanz • Iranian Revolutionary Guard • air defense

 Obama: We Will Sanction Iran 

Obama ups pressure on Tehran, North Korea in South Korean speech

Nov 19, 09 7:12 AM CST
(Newser) - Barack Obama offered his toughest talk yet on nuclear issues today in a joint press conference with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. Obama blasted Iran for turning down a deal to turn their nuclear stockpiles into fuel rods, “for internal political reasons, or perhaps because they are stuck in... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iran • nuclear proliferation • North Korea • South Korea • sanctions • international sanctions • Lee Myung-bak • President Obama • Iranian nuclear program

UN report


 Iran Tested Advanced  
 Nuke Warhead 
 Technology 

Tehran said to have deployed design still classified in US, Britain

Nov 6, 09 7:12 AM CST
(Newser) - Iran has tested nuclear warhead technology so advanced that its very existence is an official secret in the US and Britain, according to a report from the UN’s nuclear watchdog group, the International Atomic Energy Agency. The dossier, obtained by the Guardian, says Iran has tested the high-explosive... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iran • United Nations • nuclear weapons • nuclear program • International Atomic Energy Agency • warheads • Iranian nuclear program

226 Stories


World  •  Politics 
TwitterFollow @NewserWorld on Twitter

 
Iran • Bush administration • nuclear proliferation • economic sanctions • nuclear program • UN sanctions • Obama administration

from our news partners