LONDON: While most experts anticipate US President Donald Trump will extend waivers on sanctions against Iran on Friday, the administration is seeking to amend the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act which gives congress the authority to review decisions the White House makes related to Iran’s nuclear program.
The Trump administration has strongly opposed the “Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act” or INARA, which requires the president to certify every 90 days that “Iran is transparently, verifiably and fully implementing the agreement.”
In October, Trump decided not to certify Iran’s compliance, but extended sanctions-relief for another three months. Talks are underway, according to US media outlets, to amend INARA so that the office of the president would not be required to confirm Iran’s good behavior every quarter.
Amendments to INARA are likely to dominate the next-chapter in the Iran deal, said Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior Iran analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “Keep your eyes on the senate,” he said.
Moreover, a slew of sanctions not directly related to Iran’s nuclear program, including measures against Iranian state TV and charitable endowments linked to the regime, may be announced in the coming weeks as the White House seeks avenues to punish Tehran cracking down on nation-wide protests, says Michael Pregent, an adjunct fellow at the Hudson Institute, an American Think Tank.
“Sanctions will be on ballistic missiles, human rights abusers, the IRIB (state-run media apparatus), and other financial entities,” he said.
Iran nuclear deal: What happens next?
Iran nuclear deal: What happens next?
Fourth Palestine Action activist ends hunger strike in UK prison
- Amy Gardiner-Gibson began eating again after 49 days of protest
- Govt rejects claims it ignored prison safety protocols
LONDON: A fourth Palestine Action activist imprisoned in the UK has ended her hunger strike.
Amy Gardiner-Gibson, who also uses the name Amu Gib, began eating again after 49 days of fasting, the campaign group Prisoners for Palestine said.
Qesser Zuhrah, another activist, ended her hunger strike last week after 48 days but said she might resume it next year, Sky News reported.
Four Palestine Action activists have now ended their hunger strikes while in prison, while four others are continuing to fast.
All of them are in prison on remand, awaiting trial for a series of high-profile alleged break-ins and criminal damage.
Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organization and banned earlier this year.
On Tuesday, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested in central London at a rally in support of the hunger strikers.
The protesters are demanding that weapons factories in Britain with ties to Israel be shut down, as well as the removal of Palestine Action’s proscription.
They are also calling for immediate bail to be given to imprisoned pro-Palestine activists and an end to the alleged mistreatment of prisoners in custody.
Seven imprisoned members of Palestine Action have been transferred to hospital over the course of the hunger strike campaign. Doctors have highlighted concerns about the long-term impact of fasting on the activists.
Lawyers representing the group on Monday initiated legal action against the government over its alleged failure to follow prison safety regulations.
The government, however, has rejected this accusation, Sky News reported.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Ministers do not intervene in individual cases. Where individuals are on remand, doing so would risk prejudicing ongoing legal proceedings and undermine the independence of the justice system.
“Concerns about welfare and process can be raised through established legal and administrative channels, including prison governors and ultimately the prison and probation ombudsman.
“Healthcare decisions are taken independently by qualified NHS professionals and appropriate care and oversight frameworks remain in place.”
The activists still on hunger strike include Heba Muraisi and Teuta Hoxha. Hoxha has been on remand for 13 months and her family told Sky News they feared she would die in prison.
Another of the activists, Kamran Ahmad, is believed to have been on hunger strike for 45 days and hospitalized three times.
Lewie Chiaramello, who has Type 1 diabetes, is on day 31 of his strike and taking part by fasting every other day.
