by Stephen Lendman

No just cause exists. Now now. Not earlier. It doesn't matter. US relations with Iran remain hostile.

Key is its sovereign independence. Its regional Israeli rivalry. Its huge oil and gas reserves.

Washington wants its dirty hands controlling them. Imperial powers operate this way.

Washington most of all. Wanting unchallenged dominance. Waging resource wars. Permanent wars of aggression.

Ravaging one country after another. Risking nuclear confrontation with Russia. Threatening world peace. Sabotaging rapprochement with Iran.

Nuclear talks continue. Prospects for durable longterm resolution aren't promising. Iran's program is entirely legitimate. Peaceful.

With no military component. Claims otherwise reflect red herring cover for long sought regime change.

Lawless sanctions define US policy. Economic and political war. Washington never forgave Iranian independence.

Toppling a generation of repressive Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi rule. A pro-Western stooge.

On November 14, 1979, Jimmy Carter's His Executive Order 12170 blocked Iranian government property.

Ludicrously claiming "the situation in Iran constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to (America's) national security, foreign policy and economy."

"(D)eclar(ing) a national emergency to deal with that threat."

"(B)lock(ing) all property and interests in property of the Government of Iran, its instrumentalities and controlled entities and the Central Bank of Iran which are or become subject to the jurisdiction of the United States or which are in or come within the possession or control of persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States."

Seizing $12 billion in Iranian government bank deposits, securities, gold, and other properties. Including $5.6 billion held by overseas branches of US banks.

In early April 1980, severing diplomatic relations. A full trade embargo followed.

In January 1981, lifted under Algiers Accords provisions. Unblocking most Iranian assets.

Iranian Assets Control Regulations remained in effect. Targeting its economy and people ruthlessly.

Continued to this day. By presidential executive orders and congressional legislation. Blocking virtually all trade and investments with Iran.

Imposing stiff penalties on violators. Punishing sanctions. Targeting vital sectors of Iran's economy. Irresponsibly lawless by any standard.

The House Nuclear Iran Prevention Act of 2013 imposed a near oil embargo. The Senate version called the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act.

Limiting Obama's ability to lift sanctions if P5+1 talks bear fruition. Prohibiting companies or individuals from doing business in America if they conduct or facilitate significant financial transactions through Iran's central bank.

Israel and AIPAC demand stiff sanctions. Other hardline policies. Conforming with Obama saying any P5+1 deal must "make it impossible (for Iran) to develop a nuclear weapon."

Despite no evidence whatever suggesting it wants one. Intends developing one.

Plenty of evidence showing Iran's nuclear program is entirely legitimate. Peaceful.

Conforming scrupulously with Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) provisions. With no military component.

Or intention to have one. Weaponization efforts don't exist. No evidence suggests otherwise.

It doesn't matter. On November 12, Obama renewed 35 years of anti-Iranian policy. Continuation of the (nonexistent) National Emergency With Respect to Iran.

Affording broad presidential powers. Including diktats imposing sanctions and other punitive measures.

A White House Office of the Press Secretary addressing Congress, saying:

"Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date."

"In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to Iran that was declared in Executive Order 12170 of November 14, 1979, is to continue in effect beyond November 14, 2014."

"Because our relations with Iran have not yet returned to normal, and the process of implementing the agreements with Iran, dated January 19, 1981, is still under way, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12170 with respect to Iran."

BARACK OBAMA

A same day press release added:

"CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO IRAN

On November 14, 1979, by Executive Order 12170, the President declared a national emergency with respect to Iran and, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706), took related steps to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the situation in Iran.

Because our relations with Iran have not yet returned to normal, and the process of implementing the agreements with Iran, dated January 19, 1981, is still under way, the national emergency declared on November 14, 1979, must continue in effect beyond November 14, 2014.

Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency with respect to Iran declared in Executive Order 12170.

This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

BARACK OBAMA"

His action came a day after Tehran arranged for Russia to build eight new nuclear reactors. "(T)urn-key ready."

Four at Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant. For peaceful power generation.

To meet Iran's growing energy needs. Making it less dependent on fossil fuels.

Russia to provide nuclear fuel. Spent amounts returned for processing and storage.

Akbar Salehi heads Iran's Atomic Energy Agency. "It is the turning point in the relations between our countries," he said.

"These friendly actions, taken by Russia will be well-remembered. Both countries "have become even closer to each other."

Current nuclear partnership continues what began on August 25, 1992. When building Bushehr was agreed on.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guarantees Iranian nuclear construction. Fully complying with NPT provisions. Monitoring assures it.

On November 6, the Wall Street Journal headlined "Obama Wrote Secret Letter to Iran's Khamenei About Fighting Islamic State."

In mid-October. "(D)escrib(ing) a shared interest in fighting Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq and Syria…"

"(B)utressing the campaign against Islamic State and nudging Iran's religious leader closer to a nuclear deal." Largely on US-imposed terms.

Saying cooperation against IS hinges on resolving P5+1 talks by the agreed on November 24 deadline.

Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif Oman talks aimed to do so in time. Without success.

An unnamed senior State Department official calls discussions "tough, direct and serious."

Washington making its usual demands. Unreasonable by any standard. Reuters reported an unnamed Iranian official saying little was accomplished. Large gaps remain.

Asked whether progress was made, Zarif said "(w)e will eventually." Asked the same question, Kerry said "(w)e are working hard."

Days ahead of November's diplomatic deadline, consensus remains elusive. US demands remain over-the-top.

Tehran wants to be treated like all other peaceful nuclearized states. With every right to expect it. Washington remains hardline. Obstructionist.

On November 12, President Hassan Rohani affirmed Iran's right to peaceful nuclear power," saying:

"If the Group 5+1 seeks excuse to prevent Iran's development, (they should know) it is not possible for them to do so as our nation will not give up its rights and the path of development."

"We are entitled to use peaceful nuclear technology within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s treaties and safeguard inspections."

NPT and other international law. Reaching "agreement can make the international treaties stronger and persuade countries to rely on the international treaties as it is wrong for a country which is committed to all international treaties (to be forced) to answer the suspicions of certain countries," he added.

Iran is committed to resolving remaining issues responsibly. Without sacrificing its legitimate rights.

At the same time, Foreign Minister Zarif strongly criticized Western countries. Mainly Washington.

For "fall(ing) prey to miscalculations due to wrong analyses," he said. "Iran is seriously after the resolution of this artificial nuclear crisis and has entered negotiation with absolute good will."

Reiterating Iran's legitimate right to peaceful nuclear power development and use. Ones it won't relinquish. Nor should it.

Washington insists Iran dismantle or significantly modify key elements of its nuclear program. Especially with regard to enriching uranium.

Resolving remaining differences remain elusive. A previous article suggested Washington appears heading toward sabotaging P5+1 talks.

Preventing resolving remaining issues responsibly. Intending continued hostile relations. Maintaining regime change as official US policy.

Marching in lockstep with Israel, AIPAC, and bipartisan congressional anti-Iranian sentiment.

Sabotaging efforts for responsible conflict resolution. Maintaining Iran unjustly as regional enemy number one. Continuing P5+1 talks as subterfuge.

Chances for longterm durable resolution are slim at best. US agreements when reached aren't worth the paper they're written on.

Linking resolution to cooperation on IS provides more evidence of US duplicity. Both issues have nothing to do with each other.

Washington uses IS fighters as proxies. Boots on the ground. Trained by US special forces in Jordan, Turkey and Georgia.

Deployed cross-border into Syria. For regime change. Installing pro-Western puppet regime governance.

Isolating Iran. Repeating the same process. Risking regional conflict. Turning it into an out-of-control free-fire zone more than already.

Revealing America's dark side. More evidence than already. Perpetuating war. Making peace a convenient illusion.

Risking the unthinkable if Russia is challenged. Possible nuclear conflict.

Humanity may not survive Obama's second term. Stopping him matters most.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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