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Obama delays new sanctions, pardons Iranians accused of helping Iran illegally fuel its nuclear research

Jan 19, 2016 8:57 am By Robert Spencer

“Attempts to impose new sanctions under the pretext of irrelevant excuses show the United States’ continued hostile policies and hatred towards the Iranian nation and its useless attempts to weaken Iran’s defense power, which are not helpful to regional security, stability and tranquility,” said Iran’s Defense Minister. And so Obama helpfully complied with their wishes and delayed the new sanctions, which were for Iran’s repeated violation of UN resolutions prohibiting the test-firing of ballistic missiles.

It’s always the same question: what could possibly go wrong?

obama474

“Obama Pardons 21 Iranians Convicted of Violating Sanctions,” by Adam Kredo, Washington Free Beacon, January 18, 2016:

The Obama administration confirmed late Sunday it had delayed the imposition of new ballistic missile sanctions on Iran to ensure the Islamic Republic released five imprisoned Americans under a secret agreement reached on the sidelines of the nuclear negotiations, according to senior administration officials.

The officials confirmed that “secret” talks between U.S. and Iranian officials had been taking place for the past 14 months.

In exchange for the release of the five Americans—including a Washington Post reporter and Christian pastor—the Obama administration pardoned or dropped charges on 21 Iranians convicted of violating U.S. sanctions, including seven who had been detained in the United States, according to a State Department official who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon on background….

The administration decided earlier this month to delay the implementation of new sanctions on Iran as a result of its repeated test-firing of ballistic missiles, which violated United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting such activity.

The delay, which came hours after the administration announced the new sanctions to Congress, sparked outrage on Capitol Hill and led to accusations that the White House was capitulating to Iranian demands.

A senior Obama administration official, speaking only on background, confirmed that the sanctions were delayed to preserve the sensitive negotiations over the U.S. prisoners.

“With respect to the [sanctions] designations, yes … but I think it’s obviously fair to say that the key issue for us was we had these three different tracks going on,” the official told reporters on Sunday. “The most sensitive one was the one that pertained to our Americans whose release we were seeking. And we did not want to complicate what was a very sensitive and delicate effort to bring Americans home with that action.”

The administration decided to delay the sanctions not because of Iranian complaints, but because of “this sensitivity around making sure we’re not compromising our efforts to get the Americans out,” the official said.

Iranian officials further confirmed that they had threatened to walk away from prisoner talks if new sanctions were implemented….

“Attempts to impose new sanctions under the pretext of irrelevant excuses show the United States’ continued hostile policies and hatred towards the Iranian nation and its useless attempts to weaken Iran’s defense power, which are not helpful to regional security, stability and tranquility,” Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan was quoted as saying.Additionally, Iran unveiled advanced nuclear centrifuges capable of enriching uranium, the key component in a nuclear weapon, faster than the country’s previous models.

Those Iranians pardoned in exchange for the release of the five U.S. prisoners include major sanctions offenders accused of providing Tehran with money and technology to illegally fuel its nuclear research.

While the Obama administration acknowledged the pardon of 21 Iranians, the Islamic Republic’s foreign ministry announced on Monday that a total of 28 Iranian were freed or pardoned under the deal.

“An overall number of 28 Iranians were freed or were relieved of judicial restrictions within the framework of the agreement,” Hossein Jaberi, the foreign ministry spokesman, was quoted as telling reporters Monday.

Six of the Iranians confirmed to have been pardoned have dual U.S.-Iranian citizenship, and two plan to stay remain in America, according to ABC News, which outlined the backgrounds of the pardoned individuals.

Nader Modanlo, who has U.S. citizenship, had been handed an eight-year prison sentence for allegedly helping Iran launch its first satellite, according to ABC. Iran’s space program has long been seen as a cover for its efforts to develop advanced intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying a nuclear payload.

Khosrow Afghahi who co-owns power companies in the United States and Iran, was pardoned as part of the swap after being convicted of providing illegally technology to Tehran.

Bahram Mechanic, also a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, was indicted last year for allegedly funneling “millions of dollars in U.S. technology to Iran,” according to ABC. This technology could be applied to Iran’s “military systems, including surface-air and cruise missiles,” the report states.

Tooraj Faridi, a business partner of Afghahi, also stood accused of giving illegal technology to Iran. Faridi plans to continue living in Houston, Texas, according to his lawyer, who spoke to ABC.

Arash Ghahraman was pardoned over the weekend after being sentenced to more than six years in prison as a result of his effort to purchase military and maritime equipment on Iran’s behalf.

Nima Golestaneh, who had pled guilty to hacking U.S. defense contractors, was pardoned after being extradited from Turkey to America last year….

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Filed Under: Barack Obama, Featured, Iran Tagged With: sanctions


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Comments

  1. Adrian says

    Jan 19, 2016 at 10:07 am

    so what will be Our Great Community Re-Organizer’s immortal legacy once a new president rips up the Iran deal, Obamacare, immigration executive orders etc etc?

  2. Bill says

    Jan 19, 2016 at 10:32 am

    Perhaps he will seek to forge a new legacy as head of the United Nations and attempt to destroy the USA from that platform?

    • nomoreislamicstate says

      Jan 19, 2016 at 4:16 pm

      He sure will!

    • Infidel from Down Under says

      Jan 19, 2016 at 4:19 pm

      Or Secretary General of the Arab League ?

  3. Angemon says

    Jan 19, 2016 at 10:40 am

    I think that Obama will eventually settle in an oil-rich gulf country, dress white, baggy clothes (ok, not white because he hates white[s]), and charge a fortune to lecture, in Arabic, about the evils of America.

    • Hope says

      Jan 19, 2016 at 5:03 pm

      You are right. Wait and see. When his term is (finally and mercifully) over, he will come out of the Muslim closet in all his finery to continue his assault on freedom and democracy in the US and the free world.

  4. Jay Boo says

    Jan 19, 2016 at 11:58 am

    Obama turned his back on the Green Party in Iran and left American hostages sit in Iranian prisons for years rather than risk ‘interfering’ in Muslim affairs.

    Yet he supported the Islamist “Arab Spring” that turned into a piety bloodbath.
    Muslims cannot blame America for their gleeful eagerness to turn on other Muslims in the name of Allah. Without enemies to hate, Muslims would be forced to stare into the painful bitter emptiness of Islam’s cage.

    • Adrian says

      Jan 19, 2016 at 5:16 pm

      excellent points, Jay Boo!

  5. Sam says

    Jan 19, 2016 at 3:01 pm

    The caption under the photo of Obama should read, “What, me worry.”

  6. Jeremiah says

    Jan 19, 2016 at 7:34 pm

    We have to do away with traitors in our midst.

    • John C. Barile says

      Jan 20, 2016 at 10:24 am

      Odd thing–those enablers of Iran’s weapons procurement all chose to remain in the United States after all. Their chartered jet to “freedom” left without them. Funny that.

  7. David says

    Jan 20, 2016 at 11:03 am

    I’m never one to insult the “Office” of President. But the curent occupants of that office leaves most THINKING American little choice!
    This man is either Demented! Or is actualy a TRAITOR working with and for, our enemy’s.
    There can be no other explanation for his actions.

  8. Jack says

    Jan 21, 2016 at 8:20 am

    Do you think the Free Press =will =challenge =Barack =Hussein =Obama =the =next =time =he =claims =“We” =do =not =negotiate =with =terrorists? =They =never =ask =hard =hitting =probing questions =of =this =President =or =these =Dictatorial =Leaders =AND =this =is =why =they =continue =to =get =away =with =it =unchallenged. =If =Barack =Hussein =Obama =who =left =the =only =Jew =behind =although =he =was =a =former =30 Veteran =of =the =FBI. =He =was =abducted =be =two =Men =from =on =Foreign =Soil =and =brought =to =Iran. =This doesn’t occur =without =Iranian =approval. =Did =he =think =the =Persians =would =not =return =Agent =Levinsen =after =all =these =years =if =he =had =dug =his =heals =in =and =refused =to =release =$150bn =until =the =only =Jew =was =returned. =On =a =personal =level =I =have =doubts =that =we =asked =or =if =we =asked =it =was =a =last =item =agenda =separate =from =the =others =showing =he =was =considered =different and less important.

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