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Trump’s nuke deal pullout impacts President’s Iran visit
TEHERAN, Sunday, May13 – President Maithripala Sirisena arrived here late last night on a mission that had potential for many benefits, including a possible oil deal that could have seen lower fuel prices for Sri Lanka. However, the visit, which is the first by a head of state since the United States President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or better known as the ‘nuclear deal’, has also been affected by Mr. Trump’s move which has sent shockwaves worldwide.
The threat of sanctions from Washington in the wake of Mr. Trump’s move will effectively put paid to Sri Lanka’s import of petroleum or related products. At present, world oil prices remained near 3-1/2 year highs as the prospect of new U.S. sanctions against Iran might reduce Middle East supply. The US sanctions which will come into force in six months will penalise any corporations or banks that deal with Iran.
However, European powers Britain, France and Germany together with Russia and China — the other signatories to the Iran nuclear deal — are backing the 2015 agreement which prevents Teheran from developing a nuclear weapon.Re-import of petroleum products was high on the list of the agenda for talks between President Sirisena and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani this afternoon. Though Sri Lanka imported oil from Iran during the previous administration, with the advent of the. SLFP-UNP coalition, the Government turned to the spot market in Singapore. It is no secret that there had been many questionable deals including the import of substandard oil product. Sri Lanka still owes US$ 250 milllion to Iran as unpaid bills for previous oil imports but Teheran had not pressed on the dues when it agreed to talk on further sale.
Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana, who arrived a day earlier and en route to the Czech Republic, will also be associated together with Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Mohammad Javad Zarif. Other than his portfolio, he even teaches diplomacy and international relations at the University of Teheran.
The talks will be at the Saadabad Palace and will also see the signing of five different bilateral agreements. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador Mohamed Shariff Anees told the Sunday Times that among them would be closer co-operation in different sectors of the economy. “We want to promote our tea exports and enhance tourist arrivals,” Mr Anees said.
“At present some 10,000 Iranians visit Sri Lanka a year but we want to increase this to at least 50,000. At present free spending Iranian tourists mostly visit Spain and each one is known to spend an average of $ 2000 dollars at least,” he said. The Sri Lankan envoy has also arranged a session between Sri Lankan and Iranian businessman, mainly to promote Foreign Direct Investment. It gets under way today.
Foreign Minister Marapana told the Sunday Times, “we have taken all steps to ensure President Sirisena’s visit is successful and we see a further strengthening of Sri Lanka-Iran relations.” He declined to comment on the US withdrawal of the ‘nuclear deal’ and its impact.
Sirisena who arrived from the Qatari capital of Doha was driven to the luxury Hotel Espina Palace that offers a panoramic view of a large part of Teheran from its upper floors The bush green covered hills around the Iranian city are still snowcapped though spring has arrived.
Among those accompanying the President are ministers Rajitha Senaratne, Rauff Hakeem, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and Rishad Bathiuddin. Vavuniya District Parliamentarian Cader Masthanwho signed the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe but abstained later is also a member of the entourage.
In the light of the ‘nuclear ban’ Iran-Lanka telephone links have been affected with failures in Viber, What’sApp and other applications. Telephone calls are also being severely interrupted. A significantly overriding factor of President Sirisena’s visit is the high security mode Iranian authorities have got into.
The media contingent for his visit, who were staying in a floor just lower to his suite, were told this morning to vacate their rooms and not to return till evening. Most who had to do their reportage for Sunday newspapers in Sri Lanka had to run hither and tither because the special Media Centre, one of the bedrooms converted, was also shut down. Earlier, the. Media Centre could not accommodate the members of the contingent because of the limited space.
A helpless Sri Lanka Embassy official said “we cannot do anything about this. It is an order from the Presidential Guard.” Most media personnel took their belongings and moved out. The Business Centre, sans computers, was also searched by the Presidential Guards.
The uneasy calm that prevails is evident. Iranian intelligence personnel have ringed the hotel. An escort, a friend, showed me their presence even in shopping malls and public places.