Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

REVUE DE PRESSE~PRESS REVlEW~BERHEVOKA ÇAPÊ~R,v'STA STAMPA~DENTRO DE LA PIŒNSA~BAS'N ÖZET;
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[he purchase of Iranian crude oil by
U.S.-based companies and their branches
overseas had been widely cited as an inconsistency
in U.S. policy as it pressed for
trade sanctions. Nations in Europe and
Asia friendly to the United States generally
have resisted Washington's pleas that
they halt trade with Iran, and It was unclear
whether the president's latest move
would bring any results.
On Monday, after Mr. Clinton effectively
declared an end to the U.S. purchase of
Iranian crude, Mr. Christopher issued his
broadest indictment yet of Iran. He called
Tehran "a ~or threat to United States
interests and mternational security," and
added: ::~re determined to stop them."
Be es' ted that Iran, despite a domestic
~criIis, "spends several hun-
~ JDiIJIlpa doUars a year to ptoYide radical
poofI with weapons, equipment,
trairons. In~ financial support."
He also said Iran was specifically seeking
gas centrifuge technology used to isolate
weapons-grade nuclear fuel and in
1992 sent agents to Kazakhstan in an attempt
to buy enriched uranium. Tehran
has said it is seeking nuclear technology
purely for peaceful energy needs.
"Other nations were using our trade
with Iran as an excuse for making coneessionary
credits or taking other actions to
strengthen Iran," Mr. Christopher said.
"We did not want to give anybody ajustification
or an excuse or really even an argument
against the strong position that we'
are now taking."
The White House is claiming modest
success. Mr. Clinton's spokesman, Michael
McCurry, told reporters Monday
that some members of the Group of Seven
wealthy nations were "reviewing their own
economic engagement with Iran."
In addition to Russia and China, Germany
and Japan have been particular targets
of U.S. pressure.
Under the president's plan, Iran will not
be permitted to buy any U.S. goods. Last
year, U.S. exports to Iran were valued at
$326 million. In addition, American-controlled
oil companies will no
longer be allowed to buy Iranian
crude and resell it on the
world market. Fully independent
subsidiaries not controlled
'by U.S.-based executives will
not,be affected by the order.
U.S. oil companies and their
branches abroad buy about 20
percent of Iranian crude, valued
!it $3 billion to $4 billion. They
already are barred from import-
'lng Iranian crude directly to the
United States.
'.'Another possible aim of Mr.
Clinton's action is to derail Reptblican-sponsored
legislation
~,~ing offered in Congress to
,yeate a secondary boycott by.
'Jarrjng U.S cOll1mcn;ialties to
'my company that trades wiLh
Iran.
The officials who drafted the
r-~ent U.S. ban on trade,
whidl Wlil Ilot lake lull dfect
until July, refrained from el>pressing
'optimism about ho....
other nations would react.
At the most.they say the U.S.
step to han American companies
and their dependent suhsidiaries
from commercial contacts
with Iran will "enhance
our credibility" in pressing for
restraint by other nations.
The crux of the issue is.
whether financial and trade
benefits, particularly the sale of
oil. produces cash and frees other
Iranian resources to help finance
such opponents of Middle
Fast peace as the Hama~
and Hezbollah groups.
Japan has provided some fi-.
nancing for a major hydrodectrie
dam project in Irim but so
far has delayed providing
scheduled enhancements. Rus~
sia has shown little indication
, so far that it will reconsider its
plan toselliight-water reactors,
to Tehran, despite heavy U.S.
pressure.
Germany envisions commercial
contacts with Tehran as
well, and Chancellor Helmut
Kohl has deflected U.S. pressure,
specifically citing the pur-
"hase of Iranian oil by U.S.-
based companies.
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