Israel lobby forcing US to stop completion of JCPOA: Analyst

Press TV has conducted an interview with Mike Harris, the finance editor of Veterans Today from Oregon, to discuss the US not doing its part in implementing Iran’s nuclear agreement.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Iran accuses the US of violating the nuclear deal by blocking access to the US financial system. The US, on the other hand, says it has no obligations whatsoever under the JCPOA that is to do so. So, even if this access is not mentioned in the nuclear agreement, in your opinion, don’t you think of the mere blocking of this access to the US dollar transaction system is actually impeding the lifting of the anti-Iran sanctions and hence could be seen as being in breach of the JCPOA discussed?

Harris: … say we were going to lift some of the sanctions. It said the USA was going to lift the sanctions. And just because the agreement is silent on financial transactions, that does not mean that they should not be included as part of the lifting of sanctions.

Now remember there was a great deal of opposition to the JCPOA by the Israel lobby. The Israel lobby exerts enormous control over the US Senate, the House of Representatives and the administration. They violently opposed lifting the sanctions against Iran and I think this is the Israel lobby again flexing its muscles trying to salvage whatever they can out of their humiliating defeat by getting the sanctions lifted on Iran. That’s what desperately comes down to here.

Now remember it’s also, let’s just say there is an inordinate Israel-friendly influence in the banking industry in the US and in around the world. So, I would like to see these sanctions lifted because it will be good for the American economy. American companies will be able to transact business with Iran.

There is a tremendous pent-up demand for US-made consumer products that the Iranian people could buy and if the sanctions were lifted, it would boost our economy, would hire our people, we would have job growth back in this country again.

This is a win-win for the American people, but it’s the Jewish lobby, the Israel lobby, that is getting in the way of doing what’s best for the United States and what’s best for the Iranian people.

Press TV: Do you think that this firm stance by the US administration would finally lead to the collapse of the JCPOA? And if so, who would be there to blame for that?

Harris: Well, it would be the US to blame for this. They’re the ones who are not honoring the agreement and like I said, just because the agreement is silent on financial issues. The agreement clearly stated that Iranian funds were going to be released and the freeze is going to be taken off Iranian assets; they were ceased and held by the USA. There’s no doubt about that.

What they’re trying to do, these are what they call wizard words. They’re trying to find a way to get out of the agreement. And again this is the influence of the Israel lobby abound the American government. And the American people are really tired of it. They want the government to do what’s best for the American people. They really want America first not Israel first in this country.

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