Tyler Cullis is a international sanctions specialist in practice in Washington and is a legal fellow with the National Iranian American Council. In this program he offers his opinions as to who is behind the re-imposition of sanctions on Iran and why, beginning with the influence of pro-Israel organizations and now allied with the Saudis. He questions the viewing of Iran as a threat by the US and the Trump administration, putting its position in the region and vis a vis the US in perspective.
He explains the differences between primary and secondary sanctions which target countries and companies that seek to do business with sanctioned country, in this case, Iran, and how the response by Europe to the newly reimposed sanctions differs from its response to similar secondary sanctions when they were imposed under Obama. Whereas under Obama, Europe followed Washington's lead in supporting them, this time, following the withdrawal of Trump from the joint nuclear agreement against their wishes, they have been fighting back, to the best extend they can, by threatening to punish companies that comply with the sanctions which is replete with challenges and not only because the Europeans seem to be in a weakened condition at the moment.
He notes that November will bring a critical moment when Iran's oil industry is sanctioned but points out that China, a major purchaser of Iranian oil has come up with a way to go around it. What India, Japan and South Korea, all purchasers of Iranian oil, will do remains to be seen. He also discusses the problems that will involve SWIFT, the European based organization which facilitates the movement of money for the world's banks. A very enlightening half hour plus on a very important subject.