If the Obama administration continues in the same vein, Iran may go from a part of the “axis of evil” to U.S. BFF (best friend forever).
Officials have said the administration is considering easing financial restrictions that prohibit United States dollars from being used in transactions with the terror-sponsoring nation.
The consideration comes in the same week as bipartisan concern has grown over the administration’s and the United Nations Security Council’s refusal to impose tougher penalties on Iran for its ballistic missile tests and other activities.
As more and more time has passed since the implementation of the nuclear deal between the U.S. (and other Western nations) and Iran in January, the Obama administration has shown little interest in holding Iran to the deal’s parameters and has looked away at violations.
Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised since the administration gave in on promise after promise to gain an agreement. But it rankles that the administration doesn’t raise an eyebrow to hold up even the weak provisions put on the Middle East country in the one-sided agreement.
U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., could have simply said “I told you so” since he warned against the agreement and voted against lifting the sanctions on the country to implement the agreement, but he was more measured.
“The implication that Iran’s ballistic tests do not violate the U.N. resolution and therefore do not justify U.N. Security Council action directly contradicts assurances made by the administration last year when it promised that restrictions would remain in place,” he said this week. “As many of us feared, now it appears Iran can defy those restrictions with impunity, fearing no pushback from the U.N. Security Council.
U.N. Security Council diplomats relied on parsed words in their decision. Previous resolutions said Iran “shall not” engage in such tests, but last summer’s resolution to enforce the nuclear agreement said Iran is “called upon” not to engage in ballistic missile activities for up to eight years.
Now, the U.S. Treasury Department has prepared a general license permitting what is currently illegal – that offshore financial institutions can access dollars in support of legitimate business with Iran. Both Republicans and Democrats say the administration promised the ban on dollars in conjunction with the nuclear agreement.
Although Iran has accessed billions of dollars in sanctions relief since the agreement was signed, it has complained it hasn’t benefited as it thought it would because of U.S. measures linked to other concerns.
We won’t hold our breath hoping the administration will keep this promise, either, but the nuclear deal and its implications emphasize the importance of electing a president in November who believes such an agreement is an anathema.