Analyst: US sanctions on Iran could lead to military action
592 views · Published 13 November 2018 · 1:45 · Indexed 18 October 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(7 Nov 2018) LEADIN: The latest US sanctions on Iran are the harshest imposed on the country yet, according to a political analyst in Lebanon. Kamel Wazne says they could lead to military action - especially if oil exports are cut off. STORYLINE: Sitting at his desk in Lebanon, Kamel Wazne, Founder and Director of Centre for American Strategic Studies in Beirut, assesses the impact of the latest round of US sanctions on Iran. In May, the Trump administration pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. The US imposed a second round of sanctions on Iran on Monday (5 November 2018), placing pressure on the country's already struggling economy. Wazne describes this latest move as "the harshest sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic," despite Iran being faced with similar since 1979. He explains that the economic situation in the country is already challenging and that this latest clamp down could lead to conflict: "The Iranian currency had plummeted to the lowest ever and the economic situation in Iran became more difficult, and it lost the value of its buying power," he says. "If difficulties continue or get worse in Iran - like oil exports being cut off - the Iranians have been very clear that they have many options, including the military option." And Wazne considers the impact of the Democrats winning the House of Representatives in the US midterm elections. It will change the balance of power in Washington for the next two years of Donald Trump's presidency. He says this could have a significant impact on foreign policy in the Middle East. "There may be some insistence from the Democrats when it comes to the selling of weapons to Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. We may hear some voices and there may be a call to end the war in Yemen." Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/a6915ea1cf3dcea77301baa3a6fb95fb
