January 30, 2012 | Canada
Ahmadinejad’s Call for Talks: Olive Branch or Delay Tactic?
Ahmadinejad’s call for negotiations could also be a desperate attempt to stop sanctions from escalating any further. After all, they’re not insignificant. According to Mark Dubowitz of the Iran Energy Project at the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies in Washington, D.C., the current sanctions against Iran could result in a net loss of US$20 billion in oil revenues per year for the Islamic Republic. That’s a big chunk, considering Iran put up $100 billion in oil export profits last year. By calling for a new round of talks, the increasing international agreement on the necessity for action against Iran could lose ground. And the case made by the U.S. for foreign oil companies to stop dealing with Iran may be tougher to make—China, for that matter, has already spoken out against the EU oil embargo.