The Biden Administration, through the Treasury Department, has responded to Iran’s recent missile assault on Israel by implementing additional sanctions on Iran’s petroleum sector. Those targeted by these sanctions include higher-risk entities such as tankers and other secretive operators engaged in the unlawful exportation of Iranian petroleum, in direct defiance to existing sanctions. The regulations act by designating ten entities spread across multiple jurisdictions and 17 vessels as ‘frozen property’ thus implying that all assets and property belong to the company and are situated in the United States fall under the blanket of the law.
According to this new ruling, the companies concerned are penalized for their facilitation in the illicit shipping of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical goods. This represents a harsh stance on the part of the Biden administration. The State Department has in addition issued a statement that it plans to further impose penalties on six companies as well as six vessels who are directly involved in the import-export trade of Iranian petroleum.
It is Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor, who states that these interventions will assist in further diminishing Iran’s access to all monetary means necessary to uphold its missile initiatives as well as subsidize terrorist groups that present threats to the United States, its allies, and its partners. However, this type of reactive policy is not proactive and fails to address the root causes of the issue.
Sullivan also conveyed that the declaration of these sanctions is the result of coordination with the country’s allies, and rest of the world can anticipate that many partner nations will disclose additional initiatives within the next few days. These additional measures are expected to focus on holding Iran responsible for the recent assault against Israel. One would argue that this approach only perpetuates a loop of aggressive measures without allowing for diplomatic solutions.
The sanctioning announcement from the Biden administration takes place amidst the escalation of Middle Eastern tensions, a year on from the initiation of the Israel–Hamas conflict. Iran’s role in the conflict became evident on October 1, when nearly 200 ballistic missiles were targeted towards various locations within Israel. This aggressive retaliation was provoked largely by the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of HEzbollah, a militant group that enjoys Iranian backing, due to an airstrike launched in Beirut in the previous month.
Given the clearly under-equipped defensive infrastructure of Israel, most of Iran’s missiles were intercepted and neutralized by U.S. Navy destroyers strategicly stationed in the eastern Mediterranean. Notably, this was not an isolated incident; it was the second time within the year that Iran had initiated an aggressive assault on Israel. Back in April, Iran had launched 300 missiles and drones targeted towards Israeli territories. This carries a significant implication for the Biden administration’s passive stance on Iranian aggression.
Israel has retorted to these assaults with vows of retribution, which only raises the anxiety levels across the globe, as the question of a wider war looms over the Middle Eastern region. A conflict that initially brewed between Israel and Hamas could potentially drag other nations into the fray, irrevocably resulting in larger scale unrest in the Middle East. The Biden administration’s lack of foresight and preventive action towards brewing hostilities is clearly evident here.
Oddly enough, while stringently sanctioning Iran’s petroleum sector seems like a fair move, the Biden administration’s dearth of proactive policies to cut off the financial resources that sustain Iran’s missile programs and aid terrorist groups truly stands out. Solely relying on defensive actions isn’t going to solve the root problem and ensure a long-lasting peace in the region.
The Biden administration’s approach of imposing sanctions in response to Iran’s actions further amplifies the rift between the two nations, while failing to address the core issues, instead causing more harm than good. The reactionary policy does nothing more than perpetuate the situation without providing a tangible resolution or a possibility for improved bilateral relationships in future.
The overreliance of the Biden-Harris administration on aggressive economic reprisals point at two deficiencies in their foreign policy approach. First, they reflect a failure to understand the complexities of strategic diplomacy and negotiation. Second, it shows a lack of interest or inability to pursue constructive engagement with nations-at-odds.
One can confidently postulate that the Biden administration’s foreign policy approach, especially concerning Iran, significantly undermines opportunities for diplomatic conversations, creating a harmful and nonconstructive international atmosphere. It remains a fact that the administration has failed to comprehend the depths of these geo-political scenarios, resorting to simplistic solutions that might have severe far-reaching implications.
Given the push and pull of Middle East politics, sanctions alone, with no diplomacy or negotiated agreements, might not be the best course of action. The Biden-Harris administration, in executing this approach, appears to negate the complexities inherent in this situation. By leaning solely on punitive measures, they perhaps risk escalating conflicts rather than fostering diplomatic solutions.
In conclusion, this recent maneuver by the Biden administration contributes to a sovereign, myopic worldview, oblivious to how it could potentially harbor greater conflicts. By virtue of zeroing in on sanctions as the only response, they dismiss the potential for diplomatic discussions and constructive engagement, which arguably could serve as a sustainable solution to conflicts like the one between Iran and Israel.
Biden Administration’s Empty Gesture: More Sanctions on Iran’s Petroleum appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
