US diplomat: Iran affected by sanctions
Senior advisor Dennis Ross speaks before AIPAC convention in Florida, says Tehran feeling strain of international sanctions; adds US-Israel relations 'rock solid'
WASHINGTON – Dennis Ross, who serves as a special advisor to US President Barack Obama and is a senior director of the Central Region at the National Security Council, told AIPAC that the international community's efforts to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions are bearing fruit.
Speaking before an AIPAC convention in Florida, Ross said that while the US was committed to "resolving our long-standing differences with Iran through peaceful diplomacy… Iran’s own behavior over the past two years has demonstrated that it prefers defiance and secrecy to transparency and peace.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1929, said Ross, "makes it increasingly difficult for companies doing certain business in Iran to do business with the United States. It makes it harder for the Iranian government to purchase and trade refined petroleum and the goods, services and materials to modernize Iran’s oil and natural gas sector.
"It makes it harder for the Revolutionary Guards and banks that support Iran’s nuclear programs and terrorism to engage in international finance. And companies that want to work with the United States government must now certify that they’re not engaged in prohibited business with Iran.
"When Secretary Clinton spoke to you in March, she noted, 'Our aim is not incremental sanctions, but sanctions that will bite.' I think it is fair to say that over the last several months, we have produced biting sanctions."
More and more international companies and foreign subsidiaries of American companies have stopped doing business in Iran, Ross noted. "Major fuel suppliers are cutting back fuel shipments to Iran… investors in Iran’s energy sector are pulling out of projects, making it far more difficult for Iran to modernize its infrastructure or develop new oil and gas fields."
Iran, "is struggling to sell its currency abroad and access hard currency from its traditional suppliers. The currency run is symptomatic of the public’s concern that the government is mismanaging the economy."
US-Israel relations strong
Turning his attention to Israel's relations with the Obama administration, Ross said that the US' commitment to Israel "is rock solid."
"I see this commitment every day in the serious and unique manner in which we work to improve Israel’s security," he said.
"More importantly, the Strategic Dialogue is just one of many, ongoing, and high-level exchanges that occur regularly between the United States in Israel. I’m not aware of another country that we engage more regularly on such a wide range of issues… Frankly, this degree of coordination is unprecedented. I have participated in these types of discussions for the last 30 years, and they have never been as intense or focused, reflecting the serious cooperation that we have today with Israel."
Washington's commitment to Israel’s security, he added, defined by more than "just talk": "It is defined by the kinds of actions and deeds that help make both of our countries safer and stronger in the face of common threats.
"This year, President Obama decided to supplement our annual $3 billion in military assistance to Israel with a $205 million request to Congress to support Israel’s indigenously-developed Iron Dome short-range rocket defense system.
"This assistance comes in addition to the existing multi-year commitments we have made for jointly developing Israel’s David’s Sling and Arrow missile defense systems. These commitments are real. They are tangible. And they solidify the truly special relationship between the United States and Israel."
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