Middle East Focus: Crude European Games, Iranian Crude Games, Élysée Games………..

Arabia Deserta

Crude European Games, Iranian Crude Games, Élysée Games………..

Rattlesnake Ridge

BFF

“In response to the latest sanctions imposed by the EU against Iran's energy and banking sectors, the Islamic Republic says it is cutting oil exports to six European countries. Iran on Wednesday said it's cutting oil exports to six European countries including Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Portugal. Iran says it will only sell oil to those European companies that agree to strike long-term agreements and guarantee payment……..” Press TV (Iran)

The Iranian parliament has been urging this ever since the EU decision to boycott Iranian oil in July. If this is true, the Iranians are just trying to punish the European for their boycott decision, trying to create some mischief and economic confusion. Which serves the Europeans right. Of course this might hurt the Iranians as well, and sooner than expected. It is like cutting your nose to spite your face. Unless the mayhem created in the oil markets pushes prices high enough to offset export cuts. Even the always willing eager beaver Saudis cannot make up all that lost crude at short notice.

The Iranians may think they succeeded once in defeating Jimmy Carter and handing the White House to Ronald Reagan in 1980 (an unfortunate development for the American people). They may be hoping to do the same to Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni, evicting them from the Élysée Palace after the French elections. Current polls indicate that Sarkozy's goose is cooked, that he would be defeated by the “Socialists”.
(Did I just hear a bunch of U.S. Congressmen and women gasp and faint and collapse in the chamber at hearing the vile outrageous term “socialist”?).
Cheers
mhg

m.h.ghuloum@gmail.com