Tag Archives: oil

International, U.S.

World War 3: The real reason France is getting out of Afghanistan; retake former colony Syria, French troops now on the Syrian border.

09 August 2012, France has revealed they are sending troops to the border between Jordan and Syria. Syria was a French colony between World War One and World War Two.

Officially the first French troops are medical personnel, supposedly to treat refugees, but other sources say they are to treat wounded rebels: “There will be many wounded who have crossed the Jordanian-Syrian border, those wounded by gunfire who will need surgery.”-Colonel Gerard Dosseh, French military

The Italians have also set up medic facilities along the Jordanian-Syrian border.

Syrian rebels, including those claiming to be with al Qaeda, are reportedly being trained by the infamous U.S. corporation now known as Academi (aka Xe Services, Blackwater USA and Blackwater Worldwide).

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 01 Aug – 03 Aug. Pakistan blamed for more attacks. More examples that you can’t trust cops; police chief murdered civilians, signs of Civil War!

03 August 2012

At least three Italian occupiers were wounded in Badghis Province: “An armored vehicle of Italian troops were on their way to an American base in Bala Morghab district on Friday night and struck a roadside bomb.”-ISAF statement

In Kunar Province, local government officials say massive attacks by insurgents took place all day Friday.  At least two people killed, the targets were government facilities.  Afghan officials once again blame Pakistan: “All the attacks are carried out with the support of Pakistan’s Inter Service Intelligence. The attacks were carried out following cross border shelling by Pakistani army which paved the way for the coordinated attacks by militants.”-Fazlullah Wahidi, Governor of Kunar

Wahidi is now claiming that Pakistan has launched 30,000 rockets into Afghanistan!!!

ISAF claims to have arrested a Mujahideen financier, in Paktiya Province.

In Uruzgan Province, local government officials arrested a police commander. They say he is responsible for the murders of at least 17 civilians. The police commander was actually from neighboring Ghazni Province. He claims he did it for revenge after two of his police officers were assassinated.  The people he killed included children.

In Nangarhar Province, a Mosque was blown up, wounding 30 people.

02 August 2012

ISAF says two U.S. led occupiers were killed by an explosion in southern Afghanistan.

Officials investigating corruption within the Afghan government are recommending that Finance Minister, Hazrat Omer Zakhilwal, be replaced.  Afghan investigators implied that Zakhilwal is interfering in the investigation, and they are suspicious of a $1 million USD transfer made to his bank account.

Officials with the Afghan National Directorate of Security have arrested 15 government employees.  They are accused of spying for Pakistan and Iran.

In Logar Province, two cops and three civilians were killed, two cops and two civilians wounded, after a bomb planted near a water pipe exploded.  Local police say they have arrested the man who did it.

In Kabul Province, seven Mujahideen were killed by local police. Police claim the men were about to launch an attack: “A group of insurgents armed with suicide vests, rockets and machine guns planned to seize a tall building in Kabul’s Shar-i-Naw area.”-Lutfullah Mahsal, National Directorate of Security spokesman

ISAF claims to have arrested an explosives expert in Baghlan Province.  They say he specialized in explosive vests.

In Helmand Province, a local police chief and his two bodyguards were assassinated.

 01 August 2012

The Afghan National Directorate for Security (NDS) accuses Pakistan of creating safe havens for Afghan Mujahideen.  The NDS also claims that Pakistani troops have invaded areas of Kunar, Nuristan, Nangarhar and Paktia provinces.

In related news, the Afghan House of Representatives has called interior, defense, foreign affairs and intelligence officials to explain why Pakistan is seemingly attacking Afghanistan.

ISAF says two occupying troops died following an improvised explosive device attack in eastern Afghanistan, their interpreter was also killed. And two more occupying troops were killed in southern Afghanistan.

ISAF claims they captured a “leader” in Zabul Province.

At Kabul’s polytechnic university a firefight brook out among students. No one knows why.

In Maidan Wardak Province, local government officials say a NATO airstrike killed four people suspected of planting mines.  Also, four people who wanted to join the police were assassinated. A fifth person was kidnapped.

Recent fighting on the border with Tajikistan is being blamed on the United States and United Kingdom. According to members of Afghanistan’s National Congress Party, it’s all part of plans to create a new independent country in northeastern Afghanistan, and its adjacent parts in Tajikistan, for the Ismaelite Muslims.

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. led NATO member Turkey invades Syria

07 August 2012, there are reports from northern Syria that hundreds of Turkish soldiers and armored vehicles crossed into Syria.  Turkey is denying such reports, but has already warned the Syrian government that they would invade on the pretext of fighting Kurdish Mujahideen.

There are reports that 40 of Turkish troops have been captured inside Syria, as well as the capture of a Turkish general in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Witnesses to the Turkish raid said the troops stopped at a village, and were escorting a large number of militants who are not Turkish. The Turks also gave the militant group weapons including anti-aircraft missiles.

The name of the village is Jarablos (aka Cerablos), it is in the Kurdish dominated area of Syria.

Kurds have been fighting for almost a hundred years to regain their autonomous regions, which run through Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran.  The Kurds lost those areas when the British stabbed them in the back after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, after the end of World War One.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 29 July – 31 July. U.S. violates night raid agreement, again! Auswitch in Kabul! Mujahideen profiting from NATO supply routes from Pakistan! Afghanistan on verge of war with Pakistan! Afghan cops behind new war with Tajikistan! ISAF investigation reveals Green on Blue attacks caused by ass hole U.S. led forces!

31 July 2012

French occupation troops began pulling out.  France wants all their troops out by the end of 2012.

In Herat Province, yet again U.S. forces conducted a night time raid.  This time four civilians were wounded inside their home.  Local Afghan officials said the U.S. did not consult with them, and no Afghan government troops accompanied the U.S. troops, which are violations of the recent agreements signed between Afghanistan and the U.S.!  For some reason U.S. occupation troops have been conducting a lot of night time raids in Herat Province, many of them look like vengeance raids against local cops!

In Laghman Province, one teenager was killed, four wounded, after they found an old mine and started hitting it with a rock!

The U.S. puppet country of Georgia said a 17th soldier has died from wounds received in Afghanistan.  He had been in a coma since January 2012, after being caught in a mortar attack.

Mujahideen revealed they are actually making money off the U.S./NATO supply convoys coming through Pakistan!  The money is being made by charging the convoy security companies a fee which will allow the convoys to go through without being attacked.  This is actually standard practice in this part of the world, has been going on since the time of the Silk Road, think of it as a type of  Mafioso toll road.  So what this means is that the real reason a U.S./NATO supply convoy is attacked is because they didn’t pay the local ‘security’ fees!

In Badakhshan Province, a local police chief has been arrested and accused of instigating a border war with Tajikistan. The border was closed after Tajikistan troops conducted a cross border raid into Afghanistan. Tajik officials say it was in response to attacks against Tajik villages, the attackers came from Afghanistan.

The Afghan senate officially accused Pakistan of attacking Afghanistan.  Some officials claim Pakistan has fired 3,000 artillery rockets into Kunar Province in the past two months.  Afghan government officials believe the shelling is part of a covert plan by Pakistan to flood Afghanistan with insurgents.

In Kunar Province, local government officials claim they’ve killed six militants, and captured three.  Officials say some of the militants were Pakistani.

30 July 2012

In Farah Province, at least 23 U.S. trained militia men have defected to the Mujahideen. Afghan government officials, including President Hamid Karzai, warned the United States against such a program because the Soviets tried the same thing back in the 1980s, and it failed.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Brigadier General Gunter Katz (of Germany) held a meeting with Afghan government officials over the increased attacks against U.S. led occupying troops by Afghan government troops.  So far this year there were 21 attacks launched against U.S. led forces by Afghan government forces.  Katz says most of those incidents had nothing to do with Mujahideen: “We have thoroughly probed these incidents. Our investigations have revealed such incidents take place due to personal matters, pressure and other such issues.”

The Afghan House of Representatives approved a new military pact with the United Kingdom.  The pact includes political cooperation, security issues,  improvement of legal system, economic and social development.  Other countries recently signing “strategic” pacts with Afghanistan are India, United States, France, Germany, Australia and Italy.

A Kabul hospital being run by the United States is now being investigated for abusing patients, in “Auschwitz like conditions”! The ass hole military commander in charge, U.S. Army Lieutenant General William Caldwell, and his deputy, Major General Gary Patton, are being accused of interfering with the investigation.

The accusers are whistleblowers and U.S. military investigators: “The evidence is clear to me that General Caldwell had the request withdrawn and postponed until after the [November 2010 U.S. congressional] election and then, after the election, tried to intimidate his subordinates into a consensus that it need not move forward at all.”-Retired U.S. Army Colonel Gerald Carozza Jr

Another investigator believes Caldwell was also acting on orders from the Department of Defense, citing a DoD memo which said: “Under no circumstances will they be shared outside of this command, transmitted via email, posted to the internet, or duplicated in any way without prior approval of the Command Surgeon….”-Jason Chaffetz, U.S. House Representative from Utah

In September 2011, the Wall Street Journal revealed that people in the U.S. run Dawood National Military Hospital were dying of simple infections and even starvation, because the patients did not have the money to pay for treatment or food!!!  Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Schuyler Geller confirms the accusations in a memo, and is now an official witness.

Several high ranking officers blew the whistle on the Auschwitz operation, and were reprimanded by Caldwell: “Lt Gen Caldwell screamed at these three officers, waving his finger at them for trying to bring in the DoD IG [Inspector General].”-Retired U.S. Army Colonel Gerald Carozza Jr

Caldwell is also being investigated for violating the Military Whistleblower Protection Act.

In Uruzgan Province, someone bombed a local Mosque, killing five people. Local officials suspect the target was a judge, who was killed in the blast.

ISAF claims they arrested an explosives expert in Kunduz Province. They say he is part of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

29 July 2012

In Ghazni Province, local government officials claim they’ve launched a campaign against the Mujahideen, using local villagers as militia.

Also in Ghazni Province, more than 100 shops were burned down.  Local government officials are blaming it on an electrical short circuit. The fire was so huge that local officials asked U.S. led occupying forces to help put it out.

ISAF said: “Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following an insurgent attack in western Afghanistan today.”

In Kunar Province, four Afghan army officers were arrested.  They are accused of selling back weapons to Mujahideen, weapons that were confiscated in raids.

Also in Kunar Province, local officials claim Pakistan fired 250 rockets into the area.

In Kabul Province, and Afghan parliament member survived an assassination attempt.  Another official was wounded in the attack.

Also in Kabul Province, two people were sentenced to 16 years in prison for spying.  No official word on who they were spying for, but unnamed sources say they were working for Iran.

In Maidan Wardak Province, a local official was assassinated: “The Governor of Chak district, Mohammad Ismael Wafa, was on his way to office this morning when unidentified armed men opened fire on his vehicle killing him on the spot and injuring his son.”-official government statement

The Afghan Interior Ministry claim that more than 17 Mujahideen were killed in battles in Nangarhar, Kunduz, Balkh, Ghazni and Helmand provinces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Former IDF inteligence boss says any Israeli attack against Iran would be the beginning of continued attacks for years to come

The following quotes are from Major General Aharon Ze’evi Farkash, former Israeli Defense Forces intelligence chief

“An attack is not a single strike and once it happens we are in a whole other world. Iran will pull out of the [nuclear] Non-Proliferation Treaty…..and it will be clear that they need a bomb now so that we cannot attack them again. This means that Israel will need legitimacy to be able to maintain the operation with more attacks within weeks, months and years after.” 

“Israel without legitimacy will not be able to, over time, maintain the results of a successful attack.”

“I think that within this window it is difficult to imagine that something will happen a month before [U.S.] elections.”

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Lebanese parliament official says World War guaranteed if Syria attacked

“I don’t think the Syrian regime would collapse, but if it gets close to collapse, a new world war will erupt because China and Russia won’t let the regime in Syria collapse!”-Michel Aoun, Free Patriotic Movement

04 August 2012, a member of the Lebanese parliament warned that a third world war was guaranteed if Syria was attacked.

In a TV interview he also gave these warnings: “The U.S. is interested in Israel’s security and this requires targeting Syria.” also “There are already organizations loyal to Al-Qaeda under different names in the country and no one knows their connections.”

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 23 July – 28 July. More claims that Pakistan is attacking Afghanistan. Teenager stabbed to death by U.S. forces. Australians blamed for police defections to Mujahideen! Mystery U.S. civilian assassinated.

28 July 2012

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) announced: “Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”

ISAF also said a U.S. occupier died from a non-combat incident, in northern Afghanistan.

In Paktiya Province, local Afghan government military leaders claim they fought battles with militants from Pakistan.  They claim they killed 30 to 40 Pakistanis: “Dozens of militants crossed the Afghan-Pakistan border and stormed Afghan border police check posts in Nahmat Abad area of the Gomal district at about 2 am local time Saturday and the police repelled the attack. As a result 40 militants were killed and 14 injured.”-official statement

In Herat Province, Mujahideen attacked and killed two cops, and wounded three others.  Mujahideen also attacked a cell phone tower.

Mujahideen attacks and explosions killed five Afghan soldiers, and wounded four others.  The attacks took place in Kandahar, Kunar, Maidan Wardak and Logar provinces.

Germany announced they will consider sending their own armed UAV (drones) to Afghanistan.  Germany currently uses drones for recon purposes, in Afghanistan.

27 July 2012

In Paktika Province, Afghan government officials claim to have killed 18 Mujahideen.

Despite earlier claims, by U.S. led occupiers, that attacks are down, a new ISAF report says attacks are up by 11%, compared to last year.

ISAF says a U.S. led occupier was killed by explosion in eastern Afghanistan.

26 July 2012

ISAF says two U.S. led occupiers were killed by explosion in southern Afghanistan.

In Herat Province, U.S. led forces stormed a house during a midnight raid.  Local police say the U.S. forces harassed and then stabbed to death a 19 year old in the house.

The former boss of the central bank of Afghanistan (Pashtany Bank) has been sentenced to 20 years for stealing $26 million USD.  At least 15 other bank officials have been sentenced to between five and eight years in prison for corruption.

Germany’s defense minister paid a surprise visit to troops in Afghanistan, and hinted that Germany could be there past 2015.

ISAF claims they arrest an explosives expert in Khost Province.

ISAF condemns supposed artillery attacks on Afghanistan by Pakistan.

25 July 2012

President Hamid Karzai orders an investigation into the possibility that Afghan Mujahideen are involved in the growing unrest in the country of Tajikistan.

In Maidan Wardak Province, Mujahideen launched several attacks on Afghan army troops, as well as on U.S. led occupying troops.  Occupying troops had to call in airstrikes by helicopters.  So far there is only info saying several Afghan troops wounded, and at least four kidnapped.

In Uruzgan Province, at least 20 cops announced they were joining the Mujahideen.  Local police officials blame it on the way Australian occupying Diggers are treating local cops: “The Australian soldiers beat the Afghan guards after some verbal disputes in a military camp in Charchino district of Uruzgan province.”-Wali Dad, local police chief

24 July 2012

ISAF reported: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”

In Farah Province, local government officials announced that at least 13 cops defected to the Mujahideen.  The defections include the local police commander, who took his police vehicles and weapons with him!  Mujahideen claim it was 40 cops who defected.

The U.S. Army says one of their occupiers was killed during a Mujahideen attack  in western Afghanistan.

In Kunduz Province, ISAF claims they killed a leader from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

In Ghor Province, seven children were killed when they found a bomb: “As they pulled a wire attached to the weaponry, the explosion went off killing seven children.”-Abdul Hai Khatibi, local official

In Maidan Wardak Province, battles raged. Government officials claim they killed 15 Mujahideen.

23 July 2012

ISAF said: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan today.“

In Nuristan Province, an Education Ministry official and a student were killed by U.S. drone strike.  Local government officials say the victims were traveling in a car when the U.S. missile hit.

In Bamyan Province, several students were murdered.

In Parwan Province, a mysterious U.S. civilian was assassinated, along with his driver and a friend: “He along with two Afghans were driving in a mini-van. Along the road they were chased by two or three insurgents for about half an hour. When they got to a certain area… they were shot at from the [chasing] car.”-unnamed Afghan official

U.S. embassy officials confirm: “We can confirm that a U.S. citizen was killed in Parwan Province on Monday.”  Mujahideen have claimed they did it.  However, no one is giving out details about the U.S. civilian, other than he was an engineer who had been working in Afghanistan for at least 30 years.  That would mean he had been there since the Soviet occupation in the 1980s! Local police say the U.S. citizen was dressed as an Afghan.

In Faryab Province, an Afghan soldier shot and wounded two U.S. occupiers: “An Afghan army soldier opened fire on U.S. soldiers inside a military base… and injured two U.S. soldiers. The attacker was killed in return fire.”-Abdul Satar Barez, deputy provincial governor

In Nuristan Province, ISAF claims to have killed four “leaders” with NATO airstrikes.

In Samangan Province, locals caught a Muslim cleric raping a ten year old girl.  He’s now in jail awaiting trial.

In Kunar Province, local officials claim Pakistan is still launching artillery strikes into Afghanistan.  They say at least 100 rounds landed in Afghanistan’s territory.  Afghan officials now claim that more than 2,000 have been fired from Pakistan in the past two months!  Pakistan is denouncing such claims saying: “Pakistani troops only respond to and engage militants from where they are attacked/fired upon.”

In Helmand Province, local officials say in the past two months of fighting 81 civilians have been killed, and 110 wounded! Local government officials also claim they’ve killed 154 Mujahideen!

 

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3, Syria says U.S. made Stinger missiles being delivered to rebel groups, U.S. welcomes resignation of Kofi Annan

In a press conference, at the United Nations in New York City, a Syrian UN rep stated that U.S. made Stinger anti-aircraft missiles were being shipped in to rebels, via NATO member Turkey.

Syrian rep states the United States is glad Kofi Annan resigned because the U.S. was against Annan’s six point peace plan. Syria, Russia, China and other countries supported Annan’s plan, but every time the Syrian government tried to implement the plan, rebels would increase their attacks forcing the Syrian government to respond in self defense.

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: Senate passes bill that almost guarantees war with Iran! Obama must now sign or veto

On 14 December 2011 the U.S. House passed HR 1905 (click here for more info).  On 01 August 2012, the U.S. Senate passed their version, now it goes before President Obama to be accepted or rejected.

The bill affects other countries, not just Iran, and even U.S. citizens!

Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Human Rights Act of 2012

Title I – Expansion of Multilateral Sanctions Regime with Respect to Iran
Section 101 –
Declares that it is U.S. policy to: (1) prevent Iran from acquiring or developing nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and advanced conventional weapons; and (2) implement all sanctions against Iran in order to compel Iran to abandon nuclear weapons efforts and to cease support for terrorism.
Section 102 –
Expresses the sense of Congress that the goal of compelling Iran to abandon efforts to acquire a nuclear weapons capability and other threatening activities can be achieved through a policy that includes economic sanctions, diplomacy, and military planning, capabilities and options, and that this objective is consistent with the one stated by President Barack Obama in the 2012 State of the Union Address.
Section 103 –
Urges the President to initiate diplomatic efforts to expand the multilateral sanctions regime regarding Iran.
Section 104 –
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should seek to maximize the effects of existing sanctions on Iran, and (2) the United States should take all necessary measures to preserve information-sharing activities.
Title II – Expansion of Sanctions Relating to the Energy Sector of Iran and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction by Iran
Subtitle A – Expansion of Iran Sanctions Act of 1996
Section 201 –
Amends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to impose specified sanctions on a person that knowingly participates in certain petroleum resource development joint ventures outside of Iran if the Iranian government is a substantial partner or investor in the joint venture, or if Iran could, through such joint venture, receive new technology or equipment that could significantly contribute to its development of petroleum resources in Iran.
Section 202 –
Imposes specified sanctions on a person that knowingly sells, leases, or provides to Iran certain petroleum and infrastructure development-related resources goods, services, technology, or support:
(1) any of which has a fair market value of $1 million or more; or
(2) that, during a 12-month period, have an aggregate fair market value of $5 million or more.
Imposes specified sanctions on a person knowingly selling, leasing, or providing to Iran certain petrochemical development-related goods, services, technology, or support:
(1) any of which has a fair market value of $250,000 or more; or
(2) that, during a 12-month period, have an aggregate fair market value of $1 million or more.
Section 203 –
Imposes specified sanctions on a person knowingly participating in certain joint ventures with Iran’s government, Iranian entities, or persons acting for or on behalf of Iran in the mining, production, or transportation of uranium. Exempts a person from sanctions if the person withdraws from such joint ventures within 180 days after enactment of this Act.
Section 204 –
Authorizes the President to: (1) direct the Secretary of State to exclude from the United States an alien who is a corporate officer, principal, or controlling shareholder in a sanctioned firm; and (2) impose sanctions against the principal executive officer or other principal executive officers of a sanctioned firm.
Subtitle B – Additional Measures Relating to Sanctions Against Iran
Section 211 –
Directs the President to block the property and property interests in the United States or under the control of a U.S. person of a person that knowingly provides ships, insurance or reinsurance, or other shipping services for transportation of goods that materially contribute to Iran’s proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program or its terrorism-related activities. Authorizes the President to waive such provisions if in the U.S. national security interest.
Section 212 –
Amends the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 to impose sanctions on entities controlled or owned by a person sanctioned by U.N. Security Council resolutions regarding Iran.
Section 213 –
Prohibits an entity owned or controlled by a U.S. person and established or maintained outside the United States from engaging in any transaction with Iran or a person under Iran’s jurisdiction that would be prohibited if the transaction were engaged in by a U.S. person or in the United States. Imposes specified civil penalties for violations of such prohibition.
Exempts a person from such provisions if the person divests or terminates its business with the entity within 180 days after enactment of this Act.
Section 214 –
Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require securities issuers to disclose in detail in their mandatory annual or quarterly reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) whether they or their affiliates have:
(1) engaged in certain activities relating to Iran, terrorism, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
(2) knowingly engaged in specified activities, or knowingly violated certain regulations prescribed under the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010;
(3) knowingly conducted any transaction or dealing with a person whose property and interests in property are blocked by certain Executive Orders; or
(4) knowingly conducted a transaction or dealing with any person listed in the Iranian Transactions Regulations. Requires:
(1) an issuer to disclose in a separate SEC filing that any such activity has been included in an annual or quarterly report,
(2) the SEC to transit the report to the President and Congress, and
(3) the President to initiate an investigation into the possible imposition of sanctions.
Section 215 –
Directs the President to publish a list of senior Iranian officials (and family members) involved in Iran’s:
(1) illicit nuclear activities or WMD proliferation,
(2) support for international terrorism, or
(3) human rights abuses against Iranian citizens.
Prohibits such persons from being granted U.S. immigration status or admitted into the United States, except pursuant to the United Nations Headquarters Agreement. Authorizes the President to waive such provisions if in the U.S. national interest.
Section 216 –
Expresses the sense of Congress that the loss of access by sanctioned Iranian financial institutions to specialized financial messaging services must be maintained.
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to report to Congress regarding persons that provide specialized financial communications services to the Central Bank of Iran or other sanctioned financial institutions and efforts by the Secretary to terminate such services.
Authorizes the President to impose specified sanctions against a person providing or facilitating such services.
Section 217 –
Sets forth reporting requirements regarding: (1) foreign entities investing in Iran’s energy sector; and (2) petroleum imports to, and exports from, Iran.
Title III – Sanctions with Respect to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps
Subtitle A – Identification of, and Sanctions with Respect to, Officials, Agents, Affiliates, and Supporters of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and Other Sanctioned Persons
Section 301 –
Directs the President to identify and designate for sanctions, exclusion from the United States, and freezing of assets officials, affiliates, and agents of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that are not already designated for the imposition of sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Requires investigative priority for foreign persons:
(1) identified with the government of Iran; and
(2) who have conducted transactions with Iran relating to petroleum, petrochemicals, energy resources, finances, nuclear, chemical or ballistic weapons, or sensitive technologies.
Section 302 –
Directs the President to identify and impose specified mandatory and discretionary sanctions upon a foreign person who knowingly: (1) assists or engages in any significant transactions with the IRGC or its agents and affiliates, (2) engages in any significant transactions with a person subject to U.N. sanctions relating to Iran. Authorizes the President to waive the imposition of sanctions if the person has terminated the activity or for reasons of U.S. national security.
Section 303 –
Prohibits anything in this subtitle from being construed to limit the President’s authority to designate foreign persons for the imposition of sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Subtitle B – Additional Measures Relating to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps
Section 311 –
Amends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to require certification by prospective U.S. government contractors that neither they nor their subsidiaries have engaged in significant economic transactions with the IRGC, or its officials, agents, or affiliates whose property is blocked pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Section 312 –
Amends the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to determine whether the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) or the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) is an IRGC agent or affiliate and submit such determination to Congress. States that such provisions shall apply to petroleum transactions for NIOC or NITC 180 days after enactment of this Act, but only if the President determines that there is a sufficient supply of petroleum and petroleum products in countries other than Iran to permit purchasers to significantly reduce petroleum and petroleum product purchases from Iran.
Title IV – Measures Relating to Human Rights Abuses in Iran
Subtitle A – Expansion of Sanctions Relating to Human Rights Abuses in Iran
Section 401 –
States that the government of Iran continues to systematically violate the basic human rights of the citizens of Iran and has failed to cooperate with U.N. and similar human rights investigations.
Section 402 –
Expresses the sense of Congress that the government of Iran: (1) continues to engage in systematic violations of human rights; (2) is engaging in a systematic campaign to prevent news, entertainment, and opinions from reaching media that are not subject to government control and to eliminate any free Internet or other electronic media discussion among the people of Iran; and (3) has refused to cooperate with international organizations seeking to investigate or to alleviate such conditions.
Section 403 –
Amends the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 to direct the President to identify and submit a list to Congress of persons who have knowingly transferred to Iran goods or technology, or provided post-transfer services, that are likely to be used by the government of Iran to commit human rights abuses. Directs the President to: (1) freeze the assets of listed persons, and (2) impose additional sanctions if such transfers are made to the IRGC.
Section 402 –
Directs the President to impose specified sanctions against persons that have engaged in censorship or repression of the rights of freedom of expression or assembly of Iran’s citizens.
Subtitle B – Additional Measures to Promote Human Rights in Iran
Section 411 –
Requires the Office of Foreign Assets Control to expedite processing of Iran-related humanitarian, human rights and democratization aid by entities receiving funds from the Department of State, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, and other U.S. agencies.
Section 412 –
Directs the President to submit a comprehensive strategy to Congress regarding the promotion of Internet freedom and information access in Iran.
Section 413 –
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Secretary should support efforts to identify prisoners of conscience and cases of human rights abuses in Iran, and (2) the U.S. government should offer refugee status or political asylum in the United States to Iranian political dissidents if requested and consistent with U.S. laws and national security interests.
Title V – Miscellaneous
Section 501 –
Denies admission to, or excludes from, the United States an Iranian citizen seeking to enter the United States to study at an institution of higher education to prepare for a career in Iran’s energy or nuclear sectors.
Section 502 –
Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 to exclude the transfer of agricultural commodities from specified sanctionable activities with Iran.
Section 503 –
Makes available for attachment, with respect to judgments entered against Iran for damages for personal injury or death caused by an act of torture, extrajudicial killing, aircraft sabotage, or hostage-taking, or the provision of material support or resources for such an act, a financial asset that is:
(1) property in the United States of a foreign securities intermediary doing business in the United States,
(2) a blocked asset that is property identified in and the subject of proceedings in Peterson et al.
v. Islamic Republic of Iran et al.; and
(3) equal in value to a financial asset of Iran that such foreign securities intermediary or a related intermediary holds abroad.
Section 504 –
Sets forth reporting requirements regarding Iranian membership in, and U.S. contributions to, international organizations.
Section 505 –
Amends the the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 to authorize appropriations through FY2016 for: (1) the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, and (2) the Bureau of Industry and Security. Authorizes appropriations through FY2016 for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
Title VI – General Provisions
Section 601 –
Applies certain penalties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to persons violating specified provisions of this Act and the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Accountability and Divestment Act of 2010.
Section 602 –
Prohibits anything in this Act from applying to authorized U.S. intelligence activities.
Section 603 –
States that nothing in this Act shall be construed as a declaration of war or an authorization of the use of force against Iran or Syria.
Title VII – Sanctions with Respect to Human Rights Abuses in Syria
Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 –
Section 702 –
Directs the President to identify and impose specified sanctions on:
(1) Syrian government officials or persons acting on behalf of that government who are responsible for or complicit in the commission of serious human rights abuses against Syrian citizens or their family members, regardless of whether such abuses occurred in Syria;
(2) persons who knowingly transfer or facilitate the transfer of goods or technologies (weapons, surveillance technology, or technology to restrict free speech or the flow of information) that are likely to be used by Syria to commit human rights abuses against the Syrian people; and
(3) persons who engage in censorship that prohibits, limits, or penalizes freedom of expression by Syrian citizens.
Authorizes the President to waive such provisions if in the U.S. national security interest.
Section 706 –
Terminates such provisions if the President certifies to Congress that the government of Syria is democratically elected and representative of the people of Syria or that a legitimate transitional government of Syria is in place.