globalEyeNews Video Report: Rice Says Iran Must Suspend Nuclear Activities
"If Iran's rulers choose to continue down a path of confrontation, the United States will act with international partners"
US continues its May 2006 offer to support a civil nuclear program in Iran under international supervision.
globalEyeNews Video Report >> Rice To Iran: You Must Suspend Nuclear Activities Or US Will Act
Washington last week announced sanctions on over 20 Iranian companies, banks and individuals, hoping to increase pressure on Tehran to stop uranium enrichment and reprocessing and curb its "terrorist" agenda.
The banks affected are Bank Melli, Iran's largest bank, Bank Mellat and Bank Saderat. Several international banks have halted transactions with Iran. Some foreign banks have closed accounts held by Iranian firms.
Iran has been under various U.S. trade and other sanctions since after the 1979 Islamic revolution, when Washington severed ties with Tehran. Under U.S. pressure, Western banks have either cut all dealings with Iran or limited their activities there.
The United States imposed sanctions on Bank Mellat and other Iranian banks and bodies, including Iran's Revolutionary Guards, to counter what it said was Tehran's bid to build an atomic bomb and its support for terrorism. These new sanctions have resulted from Iran coninuing to spurn the US May 2006 offer to support a civil nuclear program in Iran under international supervision.
In her remarks, Rice stated, "We and our partners remain fully committed to a diplomatic solution with Iran. On our behalf, the EU's Javier Solana reaffirmed that offer to Iran this week. Unfortunately, the Iranian Government continues to spurn our offer of open negotiations, instead threatening peace and security by pursuing nuclear technologies that can lead to a nuclear weapon, building dangerous ballistic missiles, supporting Shia militants in Iraq and terrorists in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories and denying the existence of a fellow member of the United Nations -- threatening to wipe Israel off the map."
Rice also stated, "Many of the Iranian regimes' most destabilizing policies are carried out by two of its agencies: the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or the IRGC, and the Quds Force, an arm of the IRGC.
Because of the Revolutionary Guard's support for proliferation and because of the Quds Force support for terrorism, acting under U.S. law and consistent with our international obligations, the United States today is designating both of these groups.
We are similarly designating three Iranian state-owned banks: Bank Melli and Mellat, for their involvement in proliferation activities, and Bank Saderat as a terrorist financier. We are also designating several additional Iranian individuals and organizations."
Along with Rice, Treasury Secretary Paulson said, "We are designating Iran's Bank Melli, Bank Mellat, and Bank Saderat. These are three of Iran's largest banks. They all have facilitated Iran's proliferation activities for its support of terrorism.
We are also designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for proliferation activities and its Quds Force for providing material support to the Taliban and other terrorist organizations.
The IRGC is so deeply entrenched in Iran's economy and commercial enterprises, it is increasingly likely that if you are doing business with Iran, you are doing business with the IRGC.
We call on responsible banks and companies around the world to terminate any business with Bank Melli, Bank Mellat, Bank Saderat, and all companies and entities of the IRGC.
In dealing with Iran, it is nearly impossible to know one's customer and be assured that one is not unwittingly facilitating the regime's reckless behavior and conduct.
The recent warning by the Financial Action Task Force, the world's premier standard setting body for countering terrorism finance and money laundering, confirms the extraordinary risks that accompany those who do business with Iran."
Washington has also said Bank Mellat and its subsidiaries provide banking services in support of Iran's nuclear activities, including the country's Atomic Energy Organisation.
For the transcript of the address see "Remarks with Secretary of the Treasury Henry M. Paulson" delivered by Condoleezza Rice.
Click here for the full State Department Video.
Labels: al Qaeda, Condoleezza Rice, Financial Action Task Force, Iran, Iran sanctions, IRGC, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Israel, Quds Force, Shia militants, terrorism |
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