Around 11 am in Paris time, the live broadcast of the first panel, discussing on the buildup to tomorrow’s Free Iran, 2018 Gathering, discussed on Iran Policy, started.
Amb. Adam Ereli:U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain 2007-2011and Deputy State Department Spokesman 2003-2006 addressed the panel,
Something we could all agree on is, what a difference a year makes, when you think of where Iran was and the United States policy was last year versus where it is today. You know I mean at least we know where we stand right and we also know that where we stand is working. So I think that’s something is very salutary, I guess. I would also say is what a difference if one year makes a big difference, two years makes double that difference. So the train line certainly seems to be moving in the right direction. The other the other point I would make is that sanctions are working. And we need to remember that and we need in my view to take that as Key point of rock for reference. You know as Maria said, I mean the reality is reached ninety thousand to the dollar a few days ago which is extraordinary. And again let’s be clear it’s both good and bad. It’s good in the sense that it shows that the regime is under pressure. It’s bad because for the Iranian people and we should always bear that in mind that, there are two sides to every point and the sooner we can free them from this the better will be for everybody. But the other sort of commend to you a picture on Twitter. Of an old man in Tehran who’s holding up a sign that says, I’m offering my left kidney for sale I’ll take five hundred dollars. Here’s the address to come to get it.
I mean if that’s not a sign of desperation I don’t know what is. So in terms of policy
recommendations, I would offer three. Well actually one with three sorts of underneath his policy
recommendation the basic policy recommendation is double down on the sanctions and double down on the pressure on the Iranian regime because that is the only thing that’s going to
A-bring it down,
B- Create a better future for the Iranian people
What does double down on sanctions require?
1 Enforcement of those sanctions. What’s critical is cutting Iran off from the international banking system, making sure they can’t use swift, making sure for other central banks, to European friends that might engage in and currency track the actions with the Iranian regime be sanctioned this is really going to require a great degree of political will from the United States. And forcing secondary sanctions meaning those companies that do business with Iran, we sanction them and their assets. And finally on the oil, cutting Iran off from the international oil markets which the United States’ administration is committed to doing, and which is the right thing to do.
I think the second policy recommendation, after doubling down the sanctions that we and our colleagues from Italy talked about this a little bit, it’s important that we expand the international coalition that is isolating Iran. We’ve talked about the Europeans that the Europeans are absolutely critical in making the sanctions work. But also I think we need to, and we’re doing this, but is to expand the coalition of the Middle East states, that are working to isolate Iran. Fortunately, we’re knocking on an open door, there in the sense that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, certainly Bahrain, which is a country that I know very well, they recognize Iran as an enemy and they are committed to addressing the threat. We’ve already seen I think those countries take positive steps in cooperation with us and in frankly in cooperation with Russia. To isolate Iran and I’d point to the Russian cooperation on oil supply and pricing believe me from Saudi Arabia’s perspective there are all teary or motive. Beyond secure you know the price and their share of the market is to strike a body blow against Iran.
