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Chairman of the Board

Sufian Samarrai

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

‫بوست‬
‫ بغداد‬POST
Daily Newspaper published by Baghdad Post establishment Issue: No. 6 | 4 Pages

Iran’s long history of assassinating its opponents in Europe

I n light of Iran’s malicious attempts to destroy the region
and undermine its stability, Tehran’s terrorist affiliates
have existed everywhere. Even the European continent
could not stay free of Iran’s destructive terrorism. Tehran
supports terrorist militias to carry out its agenda in the Eu-
ropean territories.
There were numerous crimes committed by the Iranian
terrorists in Europe, the latest of which was the conspiracy
of the Iranian intelligence services to carry out a terrorist at-
tack against an Iranian opposition conference in the French
city of Villepinte last June, but this scene was preceded by
many others.
The assassination Kurdistan Democratic Party leader
Press reports reported that Iranian militia assassinated in
Vienna in 1989, Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou, who was
leading the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Iran.
Security forces in Vienna arrested those involved in the
incident, including one with a diplomatic passport. How-
ever, the passport holder was deported to Iran as a result of
Tehran’s pressure on Vienna.
Iran then spoke indirectly about the incident, saying that
“they are capable of hurting the KDP figures”.
The assassination of 4 Kurds in Berlin
In 1992, four Iranian Kurds were sitting in a Greek restau-
rant in Berlin. The Iranian regime stroke them with a
treacherous attack that ended their lives, before they can
even eat their food.
Five years later, a German court decided to issue an inter-
national arrest warrant for Iran’s intelligence minister, Ali
Fallahiyan, after confirming that he had ordered the assassi-
nation with the knowledge of Iran’s supreme guide.
International organizations denounced the incident as the
London-based Amnesty International considered the assas-
sination in Germany a part of a plan to kill Iranian political
opponents.
Drugs smuggling
Drugs were part of Iran’s shameful record. The German au-
thorities arrested two Lebanese men at Frankfurt airport,
carrying more than 8 million euros earned by a cocaine
smuggling network of the terrorist Hezbollah’s militia.
Security forces followed the record of the two men and
found that they had been trained in Hezbollah militia
camps.
In 2009, two other men from the same terrorist network
were arrested for involvement in smuggling drugs from
Beirut to Europe.
Attempted bombing failed
In 2015, Cyprus foiled an Iranian terrorist attempt carried
out by a Lebanese citizen of Canadian origin, Hussein Bas-
sam Abdullah.
Abdullah decided to store a large quantities of explosive
materials to make explosive devices implement terror at-
tacks. He was arrested in possession of 8.2 tons of ammoni-
um nitrate used in the manufacture of explosives.
Abdullah made confessions that revealed he is a member
of Hezbollah’s militia.
Malicious steps
Iran, however, decided to pursue the path of terrorism by
malicious steps, targeting Cypriot tourism in 2012.
However, its efforts were foiled after Cypriot security
forces launched a pre-emptive strike on Hossam Yaqoub, a
Swedish person of Lebanese descent who had served Hez-
bollah.
Yacoub had planned to target a group of tourists in Cy-
prus, but his attempt was foiled after he was monitored by
the Cypriot authorities who put him behind bars after he was
arrested at the hotel he chose as the scene of his failed act.
Iran has along history with crimes practiced against Eu-
rope and the European people. It used assassination, explo-
sives and drugs to target their opponents in Europe as well
as raising more money to keep on its plot to spread its hei-
nous ideology around the world.
Europe must give more attention to the Iranian practices
and crimes in the continent or else Iran’s threat will reach
the whole world.

News in Brief
Water poisoning cases in
Basra rises to 111,000: UN
L
Envoy
The number of people who got poi-
soned by contaminated drinking water
in Basra has reached 111,000, a state-
ment by the UN envoy toIraq Mehdi
Tamimi said.
In August, 17,000 people were re-
ported to be admitted to hospitals over
illness from the polluted water.
Moreover, Tamimi called on the cen-
tral government and local authorities to
adopt a clear position on the issue.
Mass protests erupted in Basra in
July, with clean water and proper facil-
ities as their top demands.
4 women expected to receive
ministerial posts
Informed political sources have re-
vealed a preliminary agreement on the
appointment of four women in Iraq’s
new government.
The sources said that the Prime Min-
ister-designate Adil Abdul Mahdi has
agreed in principle to grant the post of
health minister to former parliamentari-
an Hanan al-Fatlawi as part of the Fatah
Alliance’s share in the new government.
There is fierce competition be-
tween Sarwa Abdul Wahid and Na-
I
tional Iraqi Alliance leader Maysoon
al-Damluji for the Ministry of Culture,
according to the sources.
The sources also pointed out that Abdul
Mahdi does not mind Shuroq Abayji tak-
ing over the Ministry of Water Resources
or KDP MP Vian Dakhil, the sole Yazidi
in Iraq’s parliament, heading the Ministry
Villages in Syria’s Lajat to be used Iran provides ballistic missiles
as Iranian military units to Shiite militias in Iraq: Hook
U
ocal sources reported
that forces of S Special Envoy on Iran Brian Weeks before the start of the sec- the country’s terrorist activities.
Hook said Monday that Iran’s in- ond package of economic sanction- Sigal Mandelker, the Treas-
the Baathist regime has
prepared a number of villages tervention in the region has intensified sagainst Iran, the administration ury Department’s undersecretary
and prolonged its crises, adding that warned that Tehran may try to use for terrorismand financial intelli-
in al-Lajat area to convert them
to Iranian military units, on the Iran’s provision of ballistic missiles to double tactics to ease sanctions and gence, said any country that allows
Shiite militias in Iraq was proven. continue to finance terrorism. its central bank to engage in coun-
orders of Hezbollah and Iran.
The sources, who refused to During a meeting of EU foreign The administration said that Ira- terterrorism operations requires the
ministers, Hook said that the US nian bankers and officials used fake highest level of scrutiny, especially
reveal their identity for security
reasons, said that Bashar al- administration is seeking to reduce companies, forged documents and when the country itself is the largest
Iran’s oil exports to zero. other means to generate revenue for sponsor ofterrorism in the world.
Assad’s forces began to raze a
number of villages including
Al-Shayah, Housh Hammad
and Al-Alali. They said that the
villages would be converted
into Iranian military units.
The sources said that the
civilians were arrested by the
security authorities of the Assad
regime on August 4, adding that
they were taken to schools in
Khalkhala, and then deported to
the village of Abtaa in Daraa.
According to the source,
most of the young men were
imprisoned in Assad prisons,
while others were forced to
join the regime’s army.
Iran will keep effective presence in Syria
ran’s Revolution Guards
Corps (IRGC) said Iran will
keep its military adviso-
ry presence in Syria as long as
Tehran finds it “effective and
useful” and as long as the Arab
country’s government demands

of Migration and Displacement.
Iraqi police launch wide-scale
security campaign against
US designates Hezbollah as
It, Press TV quoted IRGC
spokesman Brigadier General
Ramezan Sharif as saying.
Sharif said that the Syrian

transnational criminal group

ISIS
A large-scale military operation was
launched on Monday to hunt down
militants of ISIS terrorist group, Al-Ik-
regime has called for Iran’s
military advisorypresence and
said Iran has made efforts to
share its “useful” experience
with the Syrian army to help

bariya TV channel reported.
Joint forces of the Iraqi army and po-
lice and three brigades of the Popular
Mobilization Forces (PMF) are partici-
pating in the operation.
The operation’s first stage will target
the villages on the northeastern outskirts
of Diyala governorate.  of the Syrian war marked a
U
them defend their country. S Attorney General Jeff Sessions
He claimed that the Syrian announced Monday that five
regime has foiled a plot hatched groups, including Hezbollah, have
by Israel and its allies aimed at been designated as transnational crimi-
partitioning the Arab country to nal organizations.
create a safety margin for Israel. Heavier sanctions will be imposed on
He stressed that the outcome these organizations, Sessions said, add-
ing that these groups would face tougher
Ramezan Sharif
“big loss” for Israel. judicial investigations and procedures.
The other groups include Sinaloa
Cartel, Clan de Golfo and Cartel de
Jalisco Nueva Generacion.
Sessions noted that a special team
of prosecutors with experience in the
areas of international drug smuggling,
terrorism, organized crime and money
laundering would investigate individu-
als and networks providing support to
the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia.
“With this new task force being
formed, our efforts will be more ef-
fective than before,” said Sessions.
Hezbollah was designated  by
the US government as a terrorist en-
tity in 2009. It has also been desig-
nated as a terrorist group by Israel
and Saudi Arabia.

Opinion

David Brooks Daniel Kawczynski Irina Slav

Can Trump Bring Iran’s UK must renegotiate the Iran’s new gray area oil
Leader to the Table? Iranian nuclear deal trade strategy

Weather worldwide today Dhuhr

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New York 25/13 °C London 21/11 °C Berlin 21/9 °C Seoul 18/6 °C Kuwait 36/21 °C

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2 BAGHDAD POST | Tuesday, October 16, 2018
BAGHDAD
‫ بغداد‬POST
‫بوست‬
Chairman of the Board
Sufian Samarrai
The Baghdad Post is a
news website that follows
up the Middle East affairs in
general and the Iraqi affairs
in particular. The website
seeks to benefit from the
latest technologies to reach
facts and report them to
readers in order to help in
revealing the truth, linking
incidents and interpreting
its implications in a scientif-
ic and objective way. Also,
it aims to use the logical
analysis of incidents to en-
sure accuracy in reporting
news. The Baghdad Post
strives to provide a plat-
form for all Arabs to raise
their awareness over the
importance of preserving
Arab countries, national
security against regional
plots that target exploiting
the sense of disappoint-
ment. This disappointment
is gripping our peoples as
a result of the feeling of
injustice that arose from
the double-standards policy
adopted by dominant world
powers. So, we endeavor
to show the audience the
dangers of terrorism threat-
ening the future of the Arab
nation and uncover forces
of evil’s ploys aiming to de-
fame the Islam’s teachings,
Arab generosity and toler-
ance values.
70% of Iraq’s water stems from
Iraqi gov’t administration to operate outside ‘Green Zone’
neighboring countries: Water Min.
I raq’s Minister of Water Resources Hassan al-Jana-
bi said that 70 percent of Iraq’s water stems from
neighboring countries, calling for positive action
concerning Iraq’s demand to respect its water rights.
This came during a conference of the water min-
isters in theOrganization of Islamic Cooperation in
Cairo on Monday. The meeting discussed the exec-
utive plans for the vision of the organization during
the coming period.
The minister said in a speech during the meeting
that Iraq is dealing with the water situation in terms
of the state’s keenness to maintain cooperation with
its Islamic neighbors, as 70 percent of its water-
comes from neighboring Islamic countries.
He added that the continuous shortage of water for
about 40 years has become a threat to the state’s sta-
bility and thus the stability of the region.
“We are [consequently] concerned about the fate of
our water shares in light of the continued construc-
tion of dams, the expansion of the use of shared wa-
ter resources, and the diversion of some of the rivers
and tributaries that are going towards our country,”
Janabi stated.
The minister added that Iraq is now rebuilding the
Iraq needs US-led coalition forces as terrorism may return: MP
M P of the National Forces Alliance, Yahya Itha-
wi, stressed on Monday the importance of the
presence of the international coalition forces in Iraq,
pointing out terrorism is still present and may return.
“If we eliminated ISIS, we will ask the inter-
national coalition to leave the country especially
after our forces eradicate all terrorism from the
country,” he said.
He added the country is now in a stage of con-
stitutional vacuum as the government is not yet
formed, stressing that it will take about a year to
solve all security issues.
A large-scale military operation was launched
on Monday to hunt down militants of ISIS ter-
rorist group.
Joint forces of the Iraqi army and police and
three brigades of the Iranian Militias in Iraq and
Syria (IMIS) are participating in the operation.
The Iraqi troops are recurrently launching op-
erations to hunt down the remnants of ISIS mili-
tants across the country.
Iran, Russia reach deal to circumvent US oil sanctions
A n Israeli foreign ministry document reportedly reveals
that Russia andIran have reached a deal to circumvent
the last round of US sanctions scheduled to go into effect in
the beginning of November, I24 News reported.
 The agreement contemplates Iran supplying its
crude oil to Russiathrough the Caspian Sea to be
thereafter exported worldwide, Israeli television news
station Hadashot reported Sunday. It is not yet clear
what form of compensation Russia will pay to Iran for
the oil supply, but it will likely be through trade and
service benefits.
Trump slapped a first round of sanctions on Iran in
August after pulling out in May from the 2015 inter-
national deal aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambi-
tions, to the dismay of his European allies. A second
round of punitive measures is due on November 4 to
target Iranian crude oil.
Trump argues that funds from the lifting of sanc-
tions under the Iranian nuclear agreement have been used
to support terrorism and build nuclear-capable missiles.
European allies have pledged to keep the deal alive,
with plans for a mechanism to let firms skirt
the US sanctions as they do business with Iran.
The agreement is meant to “to avert the collapse of
the Iranian economy” following the new sanctions and
accordingly “prevent Iranfrom withdrawing” from the
2015 nuclear deal.
However the Israeli report said it was a “very signifi-
cant” deal “to breach the US sanctions wall”, which be-
gins with oil exports but could have broader ramifications.
Rouhani has scoffed at what he considers the US’ vain
attempts to prevent Iran from exporting its oil entirely.
It is not clear how other countries will respond, as
European powers have suggested they would seek
ways to make sure trade relations are not affected de-
spite US threats.
The Russian-Iranian arrangement was said to be
struck last month in Tehran during summit talks attend-
How India, Iran plan to bypass US oil sanctions
I ranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a speech deliv-
ered at Tehran University to mark the beginning of
the new academic year, said the Trump administration
wants to bring about a ‘regime change’ in Iran using the
tool of economic war, Rediff reported.
Iranian First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri down-
played the possible future impact of US sanctions that
will roll out on November 4.
Much before the US’s November sanctions, Jahangiri
sai ,some clients had stopped buying Iran’s oil, but Teh-
ran had still found new buyers for its crude oil.
In a hint at India (and China among others), Jahangiri
said Iran is in talks with ‘its traditional partners’ to find
ways to bypass US sanctions.
Who these traditional buyers of Iran’s oil are will be
clear after the implementation of US sanctions in No-
vember, Jahangiri added.
‘America will certainly not be able to reduce
Iran’s oil exports to zero,’ Jahangiri declared, adding,
‘America thinks Saudi Arabia can replace this oil. But
right now Iran’s oil has reached more than $80 and with
half the previous exports we will have the same income
as before.’
The Trump administration has called on all buyers
of Iranian oil to cut imports to zero. However, analysts
in India feel that what the US wants is only a reduction
in Indian oil imports from Iran.
Indian government owned oil companies don’t seem
likely to halt their imports as India only recognises
irrigation facilities that terrorism had spoiled, adding
that the country is looking forward to the support of
the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Iran announced earlier that it was cutting of 7 bil-
lion cubic meters of water from its western border
with Iraq on orders from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali
Khamenei. Iran had previously cut off its tributar-
ies that feed the Tigris River in Iraq, which caused
the water levels in the river to drop significantly.
A political source revealed the existence of secret
pressures by political blocs to pass their candidates
to the new cabinet, pointing out that there is an
agreement to keep Interior Minister Qasim al-Ara-
ji in office.
The source said the political blocs’ support of the
introduction of independent candidates for new min-
isterial positions is only a show for media. Howev-
er, they are secretly exerting pressure on new Prime
Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi to pass their candidates
to the cabinet.
The  Reform and Reconstruction Coalition
and Building Alliance agreed on keeping the Interior
Minister post for the Badr parliamentary bloc head-
ed by Araji.
ed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian Pres-
ident Hassan Rouhani, and Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan.
Iran’s currency has been in steady decline since the
start of the year as the country anxiously anticipates
the re-imposition of full US sanctions, trading at record
lows and losing nearly two-thirds of its value against
the dollar.
The first wave of sanctions imposed over the summer
applied to trading with US dollars by the Iranian gov-
ernment, trade in gold and other precious metals, and
trade in graphite, aluminum, steel, coal, and software
used in industrial processes.
Transactions related to the Iranian rial, Iran’s issu-
ance of sovereign debt and the country’s large automo-
tive sector were also under sanction.
But last month, the UN’s top court ordered the United
States on Wednesday to lift sanctions on humanitarian
goods for Iran.
Tehran hailed its “victory” after the International Court
of Justice ruled that sanctions re-imposed after Trump
pulled out of a nuclear deal put Iranian lives at risk.
The US said the case was “meritless” and only in-
volved a few sanctions, although the decision is still
likely to rile Trump.
It remains unclear whether the judgment will be an-
ything more than symbolic because both Washington
and Tehran have ignored ICJ decisions in the past.
US-Iran relations have plunged to a new low since
Trump’s election in 2016 Trump and Iranian President
Hassan Rouhani facing off at the UN in September.
Despite their 1955 Treaty of Amity and Economic
Relations, Iran and the United States have not had dip-
lomatic ties since 1980.
Hearings in a separate Iranian case against
the US freezing of around $2 billion of Iranian assets
to help American terror victims is due to start at the ICJ
next week.
United Nations backed sanctions.
Moreover, it isn’t technically feasible for oil import-
ers to implement thesanctions within a few months of
such as Indonesia,” Mojtaba Mousavi, editor, Iran’s
View, an Iran-based Web site covering Iran’s domestic
and international affairs, told me.
Iran in November.
New Delhi did not know if it will receive a waiver
from US sanctions, Pradhan said, adding that the gov-
the US announcement. “Iran-India cooperation during the last round ernment is considering evolving a different payment
However, private sector oil companies, due to their of US sanctions were fruitful,” Mousavi added, “though system to import Iran’s oil. It could pay using Indian
exposure to the USfinancial system, have cut down im- some problems were experienced. For example, In- rupees in an attempt to dump the US dollar.
ports drastically -- and that is what the US desired and dia forced Iran to barter oil for certain Indian goods, Indian Oil and Mangalore Refinery have contracted to
not actual zero oil imports from Iran. none of which was needed in Iran.” import 1.25 million tonnes of Iranian oil in November,
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated last month “On the other hand,” Mousavi pointed out, “India’s the month when USsanctions against Iran’s oil sector
that Washington would consider waivers on the embar- slow progress and reluctance to fast-track the develop- kick in.
go, adding that these waivers would be time-limited, if ment of Chabahar port were used as a ruse by pro-West- Indian Oil, newspaper reports said, will importing the
granted. ern elements in Iran to force the system to go with the ‘usual’ monthly volume of oil from Iran. It had planned
The recent OPEC discussion with Saudi Arabia and Europeans after JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of to import 9 million tonnes of Iranian oil in the 2018-
Russia over a production increase (which also creat- Action or Iran’s nuclear deal with the West struck by the 2019 fiscal (April 2018 to March 2019) or 0.75 million
ed some discomfort in Iran over Russia’s stance), also Obama administration).” tonnes a month.
signals that notwithstanding US demands, it can’t dent “With regard to India,” Mousavi said, “I be- ‘Some of our companies have already nominated their
Iran’s crude oil sales by any significant scale. lieve Iran missed the opportunity after the JCPOA to quota for November,’ Pradhan was quoted as saying.
Last week, oil prices rose to a four-year high with prepare the ground for easier cooperation with its tra- ‘We expect the global leaders will understand our re-
Brent crude crossing $86 per barrel. ditional partners. For example, if we had established a quirements.’
Iran is India’s third-largest supplier of crude oil, after currency swap with India along the lines of what was This is in line with how Indian observers see
Iraq and Saudi Arabia. done with Turkey, we would have had better days now.” the US sanctions, not as a blanket ban. In the coming
According to the Press Trust of India, Prime Minis- “Thanks to the currency swap agreement with Tur- weeks, it will be clear what the USactually means by
ter Narendra Damodardas Modi will brainstorm with key,” Mousavi pointed out, “all of our trade will be zero oil imports from Iran.
chief executives of Indian oilcompanies on the emerg- based on the rial and lira, no dollars will be involved, My sources tell me a favourable waiver from the US is
ing energy scenario, with the ripples from USsanctions and it will be immune from US banking sanctions. Rus- expected.
on Iran and volatile oil prices threatening India’s growth. sia and Turkey also went for a similar solution to con- Indian and Iranian sources both confirmed to me
“I think Iran will turn again to the east. Not only will front US sanctions.” that India and Iranare moving ahead to implement a
our trade with India, China grow, but we’ll see signifi- Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said that two payment system on buying oil fromIran and hope to fi-
cant growth in our trade with South East Asian countries State refiners have placed orders to import crude oil from nalise it very soon.
I raqi Prime Minister Adil Abdel Mahdi has
decided on Sunday to move his office out-
side Baghdad’s Green Zone.
The International Zone of Baghdad is a
10-square-kilometer area in the Karkh dis-
trict in central Baghdad.
The contrasting Red Zone refers to parts
of Baghdad immediately outside the perime-
ter, but was also loosely applied to all unse-
cured areas outside the off-site military posts.
The Green Zone is home to the offices of
the president, prime minister, parliament, the
country’s top courts and the US embassy.
“The Prime Minister-designate resumed his
mission at his new office located in the area
facing Baghdad Central Station, Karkh,” Ab-
dul Mahdi’s office said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia says it will respond to any economic sanctions
S audi Arabia said on Sunday it would retaliate to
possible economic sanctions taken by other states
over the case of Jamal Khashoggi, the state news
agency SPA reported quoting an official source.
The kingdom will respond to any measure
against it with bigger measures, the source said,
adding: “The Saudi economy has vital and influ-
ential roles for the global economy.”
“The kingdom affirms its total rejection of any
threats and attempts to undermine it, whether by
threatening to impose economic sanctions, using
political pressures, or repeating false accusa-
tions,” the source was quoted as saying.
Khashoggi, a prominent critic of Riyadh and
a US resident, disappeared on Oct. 2 after entering
the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.Saudi Arabia affirms
that he left the consulate after a couple of hours.
A delegation from Saudi Arabia has arrived
in Turkey as part of a joint investigation into
Khashoggi’s disappearance.
“(The kingdom appreciates) truth instead of
rushing and seeking to exploit rumors and accu-
sations to achieve goals and agendas unrelated to People hold signs during a protest at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia about the
the search for truth,” the Saudi statement said. disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Washington
Halbousi discusses enhancing
Iraqi-US co-op with Sullivan
I
raq’s newly-elected parliamentary speaker, Mohamed
al-Halbousi, received U.S. Deputy Secretary of State
John Sullivan and the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Douglas
Seelman in his office on Sunday.
On behalf of U.S. President Donald Trump, Sullivan con-
gratulated Halbousi on his election as Iraq’s parliamentary
speaker, stressing his country’s support to Iraq in all fields,
Halbousi’s media office stated in a press statement.
Halbusi also affirmed the importance of strengthening
cooperation between the two countries within the strate-
gic framework, as well as cooperation in the economic
and investment fields, hailing the U.S. efforts, including
the U.S.-led anti-ISIS international coalition, in support-
ing Iraq in its war against terrorism.
Al-Halbusi also asserted the need to work to achieve
stability of the region.
Iraq’s president, Barham Salih, chose earlier on October
Shia politicianAbdul Mahdi to be the next prime minister
and form a government.
 BAGHDAD POST | Tuesday, October 16, 2018 3

Can Trump UK must renegotiate the Iranian nuclear deal

Bring Iran’s T he Joint Comprehensive Plan
of Action, known as “the Iran
nuclear deal”, was struck in 2015,
between Iran and six world powers,
the US, UK, Russia, France, China,
that it ignored potential Iranian interference and meddling in
the region.
Despite the deal, we have witnessed the continued malign
influence of Iran, in Iraq and Syria, via attempts to destabi-
lise Bahrain, with continued military support for the Houthi
ment. Despite the efforts of the EU to enforce a “blocking
statute” to protect businesses against the Trump administra-
tion, the reality for most European businesses is that trading
with Iran will now incur the wrath of the United States.
The Iranian nuclear deal in its current form is not enough

Leader to the
and Germany. With a low bar set for
foreign policy achievements during
the eight year Obama presidency, it
was hailed as the “signature” foreign
Daniel policy achievement of the US Ad-
Kawczynski ministration. The deal essentially
rebels in Yemen and for Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as
a diplomatic standoff with Morocco following Iran’s alleged
backing of the Polisario in the Western Sahara. The Iranian
Regime’s muscle flexing across the region has created a fog
of instability and made the area increasingly dangerous, par-
ticularly for minority groups.
and we should move to engage with the US in order to rene-
gotiate the deal to better reflect the genuine security needs of
our Gulf-based partners. This does not mean simply terminat-
ing the deal altogether, simply that it needs to be updated to
better meet the needs of our allies in the region.
Notably it should be renegotiated to ensure that Iran ceases

Table?
lifted economic sanctions on Iran in
exchange for limitations to the country’s nuclear energy pro-
gram. But, this deal has been exposed for what it is – a flawed
foreign policy decision – and theUK should support President
Trump in new efforts to mitigate the threat posed by Iran.
Leaving aside this not insignificant meddling across the Mid-
dle East, Iranhas also committed gross human rights abuses,
including against UKcitizens. These human rights abuses in-
clude abuse of the Baha’i community, Christians and other re-
ligious minorities. It should be noted that the UK government
its attempts to destabilize governments throughout the Middle
East by rescinding its support for Hezbollah and adhering to
transparency regarding foreign dealings. It should also enforce
a ban on Iran developing long-range ballistic missiles, which
are integral for carrying nuclear warheads, and therefore fun-

I n recent decades, the Middle East has been an arena

for strategic contest of Islamic Republic of Iran and the
U.S. These two key players have frequently struggled in
The US’s withdrawal from the deal should not have come
as a surprise. President Trump does not stand alone in his crit-
icism of the deal. A host of detractors claim that it fell short
does not dispute Iran’s appalling record on human rights issues,
with Iran a “human rights priority country” for the UK.
The UK’s exit from the EU provides us with a new opportu-
damental to the successful deployment of a nuclear weapon.
Britain has done more than most to push for greater security
in the region, particularly by establishing a permanent naval
different contexts and on different topics, whether in mil- of guaranteeing that Iran could not develop a nuclear bomb, nity to pursue our own independent foreign policy once again. base in the Gulf of Bahrain. This demonstrates our commit-
itary fields or at negotiation table whereby trying to con- with concerns raised, most notably, by Israeli Prime Minis- It is an opportune moment to back the US over the EU in its ment to ensuring that security in the Gulf is maintained and
quer each other in the soft and hard power arena and cut ter, Benjamin Netanyahu, that a strengthened (and financially quest to mitigate the problems posed by Iran and to support puts down a tangible marker of our long-term commitment to
each other out of the management field of Middle East. bolstered) Iran would simply support other extremist coun- the US president should he attempt to renegotiate the deal. the region.
Obviously, the importance of the Middle East region is tries in their quests for nuclear weapons. President Trump’s recent visit to the UK underscored the spe- Obama famously stated that he had a red line which, if
effective in the approaches of these two political systems. President Obama and his negotiating partners, in their haste cial relationship between our two countries, and the govern- crossed, would lead to repercussions. When the time came,
The strategic significance of this region has long been to secure a deal and create a legacy for themselves, ignored ment should use this to push for a renegotiated deal with Iran. his deeds did not match his words. It is up to the UK and
David Brooks proven to the policymakers and authorities of White House the loudly-voiced concerns of our key Gulf strategic partners Any attempt by Europe’s leaders to salvage the existing set- to the US to ensure that we renegotiate the Iranian nuclear
and also the importance of energy for Western consumers, - and Israel - that the deal was so focused on nuclear weapons tlement wastes precious time to work towards a better agree- deal and guarantee that our red lines are never crossed.
the geopolitical significance of this region as a bridge con-
necting three continents and as the hub of commercial transportation besides the
geo-cultural importance of this region as the arena of civilizations and religions and
most importantly, the presence of Muslims as the majority population in this region
as the key obstacle against the development and penetration of Liberal civilization
all have acted as stimulation for the U.S. and in general Western governments to
consider this region in their macro-strategies. On the other hand, the goals and val-
ues of the system developed through the 1979 revolution in Iran grounded on the
development of political Islam discourse known as Pure Islam are directed toward
the region that has been the origin of such thinking that is south-west Asia and West
Africa. Moreover, the geo-strategic importance of the area surroundingIran in terms
of national security requires Iranian government to develop its power and authority
over surrounding regions and neighboring countries in order to achieve national
security out of its borders.
It seems that Iran, due to many reasons described in the following possesses re-
quired conditions to obtain spiritual power and enhance its popularity among the
countries of middle east and it has the potential to be known as the key player of
the Middle East.
Efforts to disseminate Iran’s Revolution to other Islamic countries, advocacy of
extremist and radical movements, advocacy of terrorism, acute hostility to Israel,
human rights violation, serious support for Hezbollah and Palestinians’ Intifada, ef-
fort to achieve atomic weapons, provoking the historical quarrels among Muslims,
seeking revenge against countries that helped Iraq during 8-year war with Iran, for-
cible ownership on the three islands on which UAE claims ownership, attempting
to take over the leadership of Islamic World, to illegitimate some governments in
Islamic World, trying to weaken the position of the U.S. in the Middle East and the
like have been prevented Iran in achieving its goals, namely achieving and enhanc-
ing its power and validity and in this way this country has incurred heavy costs but
it has had an ascending movement toward these goals. 
During recent years, Tehran has tried to demonstrate itself as the symbol of re-
sistance and independence whereby enhancing the independency potentials in the
Middle East; such a policy has been successful in strengthening the foundations
of Iran’s soft power. Therefore, by seeking to obtain independence and resistance
against western interventions and also by economic and technical development (de-
spite international sanctions), Iran has succeeded to attract the attention and support
of many observers as a successful country in applying soft power in its interactions
with Middle East countries.
As long as Iran succeeds to maintain its security territory as such, it would be able
to guarantee its national security. By defeating the forces supported by Iran in the
region, the security borders of Iran may retreat up to its geographical borders and
the risk of direct confrontation with the U.S. may threat Iran in a serious manner.
The origins of struggles between Iran and the U.S. may be traced to a mutual
threat- based relationships based on which both parties presume the other party’s
measures in enhancing its role, penetration, and opportunities across the region as
a threat against each other’s interests and so try to prevent such a threat. In other
words, because of its special features, Iran naturally wishes to play its role in a man-

Iran’s new gray area oil trade strategy

ner proportional to its power and dignity in the region. In this way, Iranfinds the U.S.
presence and penetration into economic, political and military systems of the region
as a direct threat against it and its position in the region. On the other hand, the U.S.
considers that Iranwith its historical hostility to the U.S. is a serious threat against
its national interests and its long-term goals in terms of achieving economic, politi-

I
cal, cultural and military strategies in the region. Inside Iran, although the majority
support the system’s policies and there is the notion that continuance of resistance ran is resurrecting
policy and enhancement of strength relying on domestic potentials is a key factor in its stock exchange,
meeting vital interests of Iran, but there is also a reformist movement developed on last used four years
1997 when Mohammad Khatami became the president of Iran through a free elec- ago, to sell one mil-
tion and it was restored when Rohani in 2013 became the president of Iran against lion barrels of crude,
the radical party that opposed any form of compromise. Over his presidency, Ro- the National Irani-
hani proceeded a series of negotiations between Iran and European countries and an Oil Company said
the U.S. similar to those led to JCPOA. At the moment, the U.S. has quitted being in a statement quot-
a party to this agreement, but Iran continues to adhere it. The reformists that are ed  by S&P Glob-
moderate in their policies try to continue their efforts in compromising with the Irina Slav al Platts. Now, the
international community during Rohani’s presidency, so that Iran may restore its analysts quoted by
position in the international community; but based on previous experiences, this the news outlet are
idea would not be operationalized without involvement of the U.S.; so that, in Iran’s of the opinion this won’t do much about the
National Parties Congress, the elites advocating negotiation and compromise with country’s oilexports after November 4, when
the U.S. called for direct negotiation of Iranian Leader with the U.S. and some of the U.S. sanctions will come into effect, but it
American authorities also called for direct negotiation of Iranian leader with the does demonstrate what some warier observ-
U.S. This analytical commonality indicates that by the help of a stream proponent ers have noted repeatedly: Iran is not as help-
of compromise in Iran the Iranian Leader may be convinced of direct negotiation less as it may seem.
with the U.S. Achieving this goal may take time and require political intelligence, The idea for the exchange is to have private
because Iranian Leader has acted smartly in the management of political space in- local entities buy the crude and then resell it to
side and outside of Iran and directing him toward the playground is not an easy task. foreign traders. Analysts accurately point out
It must be noted that this opportunity may never repeat. that this would still put the foreign entities on
the hook for penalties from Washington as doing
business with Iranian entities would constitute a
breach of the sanctions. However, not all agree
that this fact would make the move ineffective.
The exchange trade could be used by ille-
gal traders, not just legal local companies, the
Middle East managing director of consultancy
FGE Energy told S&P Global Platts. “Since
the Iranian government or NIOC cannot get
directly involved in negotiations with smug-
glers, this will allow a private middle-man ...
to go and find buyers and arrange for logistics
that could possibly be invisible to the monitor-
ing systems,” Iman Nasseri said.
In its statement, NIOC went on to say the bar-
rels to be sold on the exchange would be priced
based on what the company has been receiving
for international oil deliveries to date, adding
that 80 percent of the payment would need to
be in a foreign currency and the rest in rials.
One million barrels equals almost all of
Iran’s oil exports for one day as per data gath-
ered by most major shipping data aggregators.
These, as of the first week of October, accord-
ing to Reuters, stood at 1.1 million bpd. How-
ever, there’s data and there’s data. Tanker-
Trackers.com reported back in September that
Iranian tankers were turning their transponders
off after they left Iranian ports, which hid them
from location data-gathering systems, turning
them back on when they reached their destina-
tion. In other words, Iran’s actual exports may
be a lot higher than 1.1 million bpd.
Leaving the export conundrum aside, how
substantial is this amount that NIOC is putting
up for sale on the exchange? This is the most
important question. Well, TankerTrackers
founder Samir Madani says it’s not very great.
The move, he told Oilprice, was most likely a
defiant gesture aimed at boosting the morale of
the population. It is, after all, a population fac-
ing sanctions for the second time in less than
a decade—a morale boost is a must in these
circumstances.
Iran won’t get rich by selling a total of 1
million barrels on the exchange; it would ba-
sically be too much hassle for nothing. But
it could boost its oil sales revenues if it sells
that much on a daily basis. Even half of this
amount sold on the exchange daily could boost
earnings. So, how realistic is it to see Iran sell-
ing 500,000 bpd to private companies that then
sell the oil on to smugglers who can basically
reach every oil-buying destination in the world
one way or another? The jury is still out on
that. The only reference from the past we have
suggests that it’s not very realistic.
According to Shana data cited by S&P Global
Platts, the exchange was last used in April 2014
when NIOC sold 2,920 barrels of crude. Anoth-
er batch after that failed to attract any buyers.
Of course, thosesanctions were international,
and the pressure was much stronger. Now two
of the biggest oil buyers in the world want to
continue buying Iranian crude. Tehran will cer-
tainly do all it can to make this buying easier.
4 BAGHDAD POST | Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Kit Harington didn’t told Rose Leslie how Game Of Thrones ends
H e’s set to play Jon Snow for a final time in Game of
Thrones’ forthcoming eighth series and Kit Haring-
ton insists he hasn’t teased his wife Rose Leslie with any
spoilers about the final season, after she left the show as
his on-screen love interest Ygritte in 2014, the Daily Mail
reported.
During an interview at Esquire Townhouse on Saturday,
the screen star, 34, also addressed Batman rumours as he
admitted it would be ‘awesome’ to play the role of the
superhero, amid reports bosses are finding a replacement
for Ben Affleck.
The newlywed, who tied the knot to Rose, 31, in June,
admitted he hasn’t lifted the lid on details about the HBO fa-
vourite, as he likes ‘walking around knowing no one knows.’
He said: ‘I chose not to tell [Rose]...for this I was like I’m
not telling anyone. I don’t think she’s guessed it right yet.’
Downton Abbey star Rose played Ygritte - the love
interest of Kit’s character Jon Snow - from 2012 till 2014.
While many loyal fans have expressed their sadness
about the show ending next year, the Pompeii actor insist-
ed it ‘ended at the right time’.
‘I have no desire to go back and do any more of that
show... I have such a fond place I my heart for that
show. For a good month afterwards I just burst into tears
randomly. I can’t think of a better job to have in your 20s
then to play Jon Snow’, he elaborated.
The star also touched on the fantasy series’ worldwide
fame and detailed an encounter with an unlikely fan: ‘I
was at Wimbledon once and I was sat at the Royal table
and Camilla Parker Bowles turned to me and said “so are
you dead?”’
Meanwhile, it was reported that Kit was eyed up by DC
bosses about taking over the role of Batman from actor Ben,
following his recent stint as the superhero in Justice League.
Addressing the rumours, he said: ‘It would be awesome
to play Batman. I love the director who’s doing the next
ones as well.’
Boasting appearances from Mahershala Ali and
Christian Louboutin, the Esquire Townhouse event with
Breitling ran from 11-14 October with a curation of inter-
views, live talks and masterclasses.   
In September, Kit thanked Game of Thrones for his
‘future family’ after meeting his wife Rose on the show.
Asked how the show had changed his life, he told BANG:
‘I met my wife on the show, so in that way hopefully it gave
me my future family and my life here on in, that’s the main
thing it did for me, you know, it’s changed it completely.
‘The last 10 years, you could not ask for a better job to
have in your 20s than to be an actor in Game of Thrones,
it’s been the most amazing thing so it’s changed it com-
pletely.’

Easy Homemade
Ketchup Recipe

Meghan
prep 5 minsinactive 2 hourstotal 2 hours, 5 mins

yield 4 cups

A natural and simple homemade ketchup recipe that kids love.

Ingredients
1 tsp chia seeds for thickening (optional)

expecting royal baby next spring

3 (6 oz) cans/jars of organic tomato paste
½ cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
1 tsp garlic powder
1 TBSP onion powder
2 TBSP honey or cane sugar, or about ½ tsp stevia powder/tincture

T he Duchess of Sussex is pregnant and is due to give
birth next spring, Kensington Palace has revealed,
the Daily Mail reported.
The announcement came as Meghan, 37, and Prince
Harry, 34, arrived in Sydney on Monday ahead of a 16-
day tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Kensington Palace said the couple, who got married
in Windsor five months ago, were “delighted to be able
to share this happy news with the public”.
Their baby will be seventh in line to the throne.
The Queen and other senior royals were told about the
pregnancy on Friday, when members of the Royal Fam-
ily gathered in Windsor for Princess Eugenie’s wedding.
Meghan - who has had her 12 week scan - attended the
wedding with Prince Harry, wearing a long, dark blue
coat, which sparked speculation she could be expecting.
That speculation intensified when she was seen
clutching two large folders in front of her stomach
as she arrived in Sydney for the tour, which will also
take in Fiji and Tonga.
It is their first official royal tour since their wedding,
which also took place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Their first engagement is on Tuesday, when crowds of
wellwishers are expected to congratulate the couple.
The duke and duchess follow in the footsteps of
Prince Harry’s parents - Prince Charles and Diana,
Princess of Wales - whose first royal tour was to Aus-
tralia and New Zealand.
Their baby will be a first cousin of Prince George,
Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - but will not be a
prince or princess themselves unless the Queen steps in
ahead of the birth.
Royal biographer Robert Hardman said the children 2 TBSP molasses
will be lord and lady “like the children of any other 1 tsp sea salt
duke”, because Prince Harry is not in the direct line of 1 tsp mustard powder
succession. a pinch each of cinnamon, cloves, allspice, cayenne
The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of 1 cup water
Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duch-
ess of Cornwall are all said to be “delighted” for the cou- Instructions
ple after learning of the pregnancy at Friday’s wedding. Grind chia seeds in a blender or food processor on high speed for 30 seconds or until finely
And the mother of the duchess, Doria Ragland, is powdered.
“very happy about this lovely news” and “looks for- Add all remaining ingredients to blender or food processor and blend on high for 2 to 3
ward to welcoming her first grandchild”. minutes.
Prime Minister Theresa May has also congratulated Put in an airtight quart jar and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight to let flavors meld.
the couple, saying: “My warmest congratulations to the Store in the refrigerator and use as you would regular ketchup.
Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the happy news they
are expecting a baby in the spring. Wishing them all Notes
the best.” Can be stored in the refrigerated for at least 1 month.

Little Free Library opens in Ste. Gen This New Tool Can Help Parents Find the Best Sport for Their Kid
K ids these days: they have so many op-
tions when it comes to sports. There are
organized travel teams, it seems, for every
game: soccer, lacrosse, hoops, the works.
While a child’s decision about which sport
to play might not be as formative as, say,
picking a college, it can sure feel that way.
And potentially cost as much: fees and trav-
el expenses for some club teams skyrocket
to $10,000 per year and beyond.
In trying to navigate today’s youth sports
scene, any guidance helps. That’s why a
new tool released Thursday by the Aspen
Institute’s Sports & Society Program, called
the Healthy Sport Index, couldn’t be more
timely. The handy website allows families
to weigh three factors in deciding what sport
makes the most sense: safety, physical activi-
ty, and the sport’s psychosocial benefits. The
dex scale. Based on this mix, the Healthy
Sport Index puts swimming on top, while
medical experts, compiled data for the index
from a variety of sources. The National High
“We talk a lot about injuries in youth
sports, for good reason,” says Dr. Nee-
ru Jayanthi, director of sports medicine
research at Emory University. “But it’s
important to look at all aspects of the ath-
letic experience. If you just focus on one,
you’re missing the boat.”
For example, football, which has wit-
nessed participation declines due to
well-founded worries about head inju-
ries, ranks second among boys’ sports
for psychosocial benefits. (Soccer comes
in first.) High school football players re-
ported more improvements in social skills
and cognitive skills than athletes in any
of the nine other sports. The Aspen Insti-
tute’s research was less encouraging for,
say, boy’s lacrosse, which ranked ninth in
safety, ahead of just football, and tenth in

W hile celebrating its fifth anniversary, a

Ste. Genevieve business also dedicated a
new offering that will hopefully become a per-
manent feature of the downtown area.
Nichole French, co-owner of Sweet Things
Sweet Shoppe, said she had become acquaint-
ed with the idea of the “little free library” after
attending last year’s awards banquet for the
Park Hills-Leadington Chamber of Commerce.
A little free library is an idea that has caught
on around the world, in which individuals,
businesses and governments provide small re-
ceptacles in public spaces and stock them with
books. The idea is for people to bring their own
books and exchange them with books within
the little free library.
French said she had not heard of one oper-
ating in Ste. Genevieve, and decided that it
would be beneficial for residents of that town
for one to be placed outside her downtown
business.
“I thought it would be a good thing for Ste.
Genevieve because we don’t have a library
downtown,” she said. “Our downtown is very
walkable. The library used to be here, but it
was moved after the new community center
was built.
“It’s hard for kids living down here to make
it out to the library unless they have someone
that can drive them. I thought it would be a
good way to get some books in the hands of
kids.”
index then provides a customized ranking of
ten sports, based on where a child lands on a
sliding scale of “low emphasis” to “high em-
phasis” for each of the three factors.
So say, for example, your son wants to
put maximum emphasis on psychosocial
benefits: he wants a sport that will help
him develop social skills, cognitive skills,
and otherwise enhance his mental health.
He cares about a sport’s safety, but is will-
ing to take some injury risk; so here, he
falls in the middle of the scale. But he’s
ambivalent about physical activity: your
son doesn’t care how much energy he ex-
pends in practice. He gives it the lowest
possible emphasis on the Heathy Sport In-
lacrosse comes in tenth.
Meanwhile, your daredevil daughter can
care less about getting hurt, but places the
highest possible emphasis on working out
hard while playing her sport and developing
useful life skills, like setting goals. Healthy
Sport Index says: sign her up for tennis!
(Cheerleading falls to the bottom here. The
ten girls’ sports ranked by the Healthy Sport
Index are basketball, cheerleading, cross
country, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swim-
ming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.
For the boys it’s baseball, basketball, cross
country, football, lacrosse, soccer, swim-
ming, tennis, track and field, and wrestling.)
The Aspen Institute, in consultation with
School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance
Study, produced by the Colorado School of
Public Health, provided injury rates for vari-
ous sports. For the psychosocial component,
the Aspen Institute surveyed almost 1,300
high school athletes from across the coun-
try, and asked students whether their sport
helped them improve in areas like sharing
responsibility and patience. Researchers
from North Carolina State University ob-
served almost 700 hours of varsity practices
to document the physical activity levels of
each high school sport. The architects of the
index were keen to account for the positive
benefits of different sports, to counterbal-
ance the downside risks.
psychosocial benefits. Lacrosse players
were most likely to cut class, binge drink,
use marijuana and smoke cigarettes. In
girls’ sports, basketball provided the most
psychosocial upside, whereas cheerlead-
ing ranked tenth on both the psychosocial
and physical activity scales.
Not that cheerleading or lacrosse or
any other sport are at all detrimental, say
the creators of the Healthy Sport Index.
Every activity can have a positive impact
on a kid’s life. “It’s better to be playing a
sport,” says Jon Solomon, editorial direc-
tor for the Aspen’s Sports & Society Pro-
gram, “than to be sitting on the couch all
day doing nothing.”