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After Macron Says Iran Will Get Snapback Sanctions, UNSC Votes

More bad news on the ‘snapback’ sanctions front with a No vote in the UN Security Council today on the ROK Chair’s resolution to permanently end UNSC Iran sanctions. But there is a week more to September 27-28 for further action in this complex matter. We will stay tuned. For today, here are developments in advance of that UNSC vote. 
        On September 18 the Wall Street Journal reported that ‘Iran made a new offer to E3 yesterday to avoid snapback…The E3 regard Iran's latest proposal as insufficient in substance … without any concrete actions on the Iranian side'. Iran International reported that on September 18 French President Emmanuel Macron in an interview with Israel’s Channel 12 asked if the return of UN sanctions on Iran was a ‘done deal’ responded, “Yes, I think so. Because the latest news we have from the Iranians are not serious." 
        One of the E3 requirements is U.S.-Iran talks underway. At the UNSC today, Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea said, ‘President Trump has continued to reiterate the United States’ ongoing readiness for meaningful, direct, and timebound dialogue with Iran – be it prior to the conclusion of the snapback process on September 27, or after’. The words are nice, but the Trump administration’s actions show, day by day, that it is not interested in finding a peaceful resolution with Iran. Here are some of its latest actions. 
        Newsweek reported that on September 17 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Iran as "the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism." Newsweek reported that on September 15 Rubio had said: "And so a nuclear Iran governed by a radical Shia cleric that possesses not just nuclear weapons potentially but the missiles that could deliver those weapons far away is an unacceptable risk not just for Israel, not just for the United States, but for the world. That's why…the President continues with our campaign of maximum pressure." 
        Here’s what Senator Ted Cruz said on September 18: “The Iranian regime and the corrupt officials who run it are responsible for the murder, injury and kidnapping of thousands of Americans.” 
        In response, on September 17 Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei posted: "The United States is in no position to make decisions about Iran's national defense capabilities. The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to preserve its independence at any cost, stand on its own feet, and firmly resist the excessive demands, aggression, and acts of hostility by foreign powers—including the United States and the Zionist regime." 
        As long as ‘radical terrorist Shiism’ is the headline of the U.S. government’s justification for everything they are doing to Iran, a new nuclear ‘deal’ negotiated by the U.S. is not going to happen. Should the U.S. step gracefully aside and let others find a diplomatic solution to the Iran conundrum? Oh no, the Washington Israel clique would not stand for that! And they have the power to get what they want.

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