A coalition of pro-Iran deal advocates (e.g. Obama admin & Euros dedicated to saving JCPOA & evading US sanctions) are calling for Iran sanctions relief to fight Coronavirus. But remember: they were for sanctions relief before the virus; they’ll be for sanctions relief after too.
As a reminder, #Iran doesn’t need sanctions relief to fight #coronavirus. Money is available. The regime confirms that. This is just an excuse to get wholesale sanctions relief to keep money flowing for illicit/malign activities. @mdubowitz & I explained foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/31/the…
Sanctions relief for #Iran should be a non-starter. It’s not a partisan position. It’s not a Trump position. @JoeBiden @SenatorMenendez @RepEliotEngel have taken nearly the exact same position as the Trump administration. Advocates for sanctions relief are on the fringe.
And it’s not just US sanctions relief we should oppose. Loans from international financial institutions should be opposed as well. It’s already US law to vote against IFI loans to #Iran. But all shareholders should oppose on the merits. I explain here
Here is a policy brief from @SGhasseminejad & me giving more details on why the @IMFNews should oppose any loan for #Iran. fdd.org/analysis/2020/…
