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US security chief Bolton vows to ‘squeeze’ Iran
SINGAPORE, Nov 13, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – US National Security Advisor John
Bolton vowed Tuesday to “squeeze” Iran “until the pips squeak”, a week after
a tough new round of sanctions came into force.
President Donald Trump has dramatically increased pressure on Tehran,
withdrawing from an international agreement aimed at ending its nuclear
programme and introducing several rounds of unilateral US sanctions.
The latest tranche of measures have been touted as the toughest yet, and
aim to significantly reduce Iran’s vital oil exports and cut off its banks
from international finance.
Speaking in Singapore ahead of a summit, Bolton said: “We think the
government is under real pressure and it’s our intention to squeeze them very
hard.
“As the British say, squeeze them until the pips squeak.
“We are also going to significantly increase the enforcement of
sanctions.”
The US measures have been opposed by other parties to the deal aimed at
ending Iran’s nuclear drive — Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia —
who have vowed to keep the accord alive.
“There’s no doubt Iran has already started to try and find ways to evade
the sanctions both on oil in particular and financial markets,” Bolton added.
UN inspectors say Iran is abiding by the agreement.
Bolton, however, said that “most of the countries of Europe have passed
through denial and anger and many of them are already at acceptance that
we’re out of the deal.
“Others are getting to that point.”
In the face of widespread opposition to the sanctions, Washington issued
exemptions to eight countries to its ban on buying oil from major producer
Iran.
Washington is demanding that Tehran end policies rooted in the 1979
Islamist revolution, including its support for regional proxies such as the
Lebanese militia Hezbollah and its development of missiles.
The only support for the US position has come from Iran’s regional rivals,
notably Saudi Arabia and Israel. The International Monetary Fund has forecast
that the sanctions will cause Iran’s economy to contract 1.5 percent this
year and 3.6 percent next year.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1424 hrs