US not to depend on EU for anti-Iran sanctions

IranMania:

LONDON, March 12 (IranMania) - An analyst with the Berlin-based German Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (Institute for Security and International Affairs) Peter Rudolf said that the US does not depend on Europe for imposing sanctions against Iran.

Speaking to Berliner Zeitung daily on Thursday, he added that economic sanctions, restricting visits by Iranian state officials overseas and halting export of petrol to Iran are likely to be included in the US sanctions against the country.

"The US can hardly manage to broaden its unilateral sanctions, but can exert pressure upon countries whose companies are involved in various activities in Iran," he added.

The German analyst noted that currently the US hopes that the UNSC succeeds in convincing Iran to back off in the nuclear conflict, adding that otherwise it will resort to harsher measures, IRNA added.

Such steps will only be effective if they are supported by Europe, Russia and Japan. Stressing that according to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran is has no right to proceed with uranium enrichment, he noted, "However, from the outlook of US, Europe and even Russia, it has lost such a right merely on account of its performance.

"Besides, there is suspicion over the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities." He said that if Iran gives up the nuclear fuel cycle and enrichment of uranium, the US will agree with its peaceful nuclear program, adding that this does not mean that the US will lift its own sanctions against the country.

In response to a question whether the US intends to change the regime in Iran, Rudolf said, "Some of the American elite really hope for such a change. But a democratic government having access to nuclear weapons or technology may also satisfy them, IRNA noted.

"However, the US will definitely not agree with such a scheme while the present regime is in office," he concluded.