The US crackdown on Iranian oil exports won’t enhance the international standing of the US, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s information and press department said in a communique on Tuesday.
"The US has obviously made a mistake in choosing tools, if it has decided to make Tehran an easy negotiator readyfor any deals on American terms through suppressing it economically, dealing a blow to living conditions of ordinary Iranians," the commentary said.
"This policy won’t add international weight to Americans — the rest of the world sees perfectly well that Washington's policy is getting increasingly aggressive and reckless," said the report posted on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The ministry said that the refusal of the US to extend the waivers to eight countries importing Iranian oil, which are set to expire on May 2, triggered major concerns. "Washington is not hiding any longer that it wants to bend to its own will the entire world," the commentary said.
"Under the threat of American sanctions, it is trying to make all countries stop purchasing Iranian oil from May 2," the ministry said. This is being done to undermine the Iranian economy, as an independent policy of Tehran in the region does not suit Washington, the commentary stressed.
"Statements about stepping up sanction pressure come to the accompaniment of reports about Pentagon’s aircraft carrier groups close to the Persian Gulf. In pursuit of global hegemony, the US is not only intimidating the global community by punitive economic measures, but is openly rattling sabre," it said.
According to the ministry, the developments mark one year since the US refused to comply with its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to ensure a peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program. "Despite regular confirmations from the IAEA that Tehran is strictly complying with all JCPOA provisions, Washington is unfoundedly accusing it of secret nuclear missile intentions," the ministry said. This policy is aimed at increasing pressure on Iran to achieve the change of power in a sovereign state, it said.
"For our part, we are doing justice to sovereignty of Iran, which does not respond to arrogant provocations from the US. We confirm Russia’s unchanging commitment to the JCPOA. We urge the sober-minded forces to do their utmost to ensure stable functioning of this unique agreement, through destroying which Washington is currently trying to put into practice its geopolitical ambitions, dangerous for the mankind," the ministry stressed.
Last November, the US decided to make an exception for 180 days for eight countries and territories importing hydrocarbons from Iran to prevent oil price hikes and give some time to search for alternatives. According to the Washington Post, three of them, specifically, Greece, Italy and Taiwan, have already reduced Iranian oil imports to zero. India, China, South Korea, Turkey and Japan will now have to stop purchasing oil from Tehran, otherwise the White House will slap sanctions on them. Beijing and New Delhi are currently the biggest importers of Iran’s oil.
