PHOTO: Iranian Ambassador Gholam-Ali Khoshrou — “Unfavorable consequences and pernicious effects” of extension of Iran Sanctions Act

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Continuing its public challenge to a renewal of sanctions by the US Congress, Iran has submitted an official letter of complaint to the head of the UN.

Iran’s Ambassador Gholam-Ali Khoshrou wrote to Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon that the 10-year extension of the 1996 Iran Sanctions Act violated the commitments of the July 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and the 5+1 Powers.

The Act is largely symbolic and is not related to last year’s nuclear deal. However, its passage by the US House of Representatives and Senate is a challenge that signals ongoing US sanctions and possibly an attempt by the incoming Trump Administration to toughen the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

President Obama sign has to sign the extension into law.

Khoshrou said in his letter that tThe US is “answerable for any unfavorable consequences and pernicious effects that could result from the measure”.

The complaint is the latest in a series of challenges launched by the Supreme Leader after the US House ratified the extension last month. Senior Iranian officials have reasserted on a daily basis that Tehran will respond firmly, indicated that Tehran could defy the nuclear agreement, with the resumption of research and development of new nuclear centrifuges and possibly even the restocking of 20% enriched uranium.

On Monday and Tuesday, President Rouhani finally joined the chorus:” We will not tolerate the violation of the JCPOA by any member of the 5+1 Powers. We will give a proportionate response.

See Iran Daily, Dec 6: Rouhani Joins Warnings Over Renewed US Sanctions

Tuesday’s Iranian letter urged Ban to to mention Washington’s “non-commitment” in his next report to the UN Security Council.

Iran Signs Memorandum with Shell for Oil and Gas Development

The National Iranian Oil Company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Royal Dutch Shell to conduct studies for development projects of three oil and gas fields,
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The deal was signed in Tehran on Wednesday for the Azadegan and Yadavaran oil fields near the Iraqi border and the Kish gas deposit in the Persian Gulf.

The fields are considered three of the four best in Iran.

“We’re happy to resume working in Iran,” Hans Nijkamp, Shell’s vice president for Iran, said at the ceremony. “We are hoping to have a fruitful cooperation with NIOC on these fields.”

Iran has already signed MoUs with two Frehch companies, Total and Schellenberger. The Total deal is for $4.8 billion to develop a gas field.

Amid sanctions, the last foreign companies left Iranian projects in 2010.