Page 9 - MEOG Week 14 2022

MEOG POLICY & SECURITY MEOG

IRGC designation said to be the

only obstacle to new Iran deal

IRAN IF numerous media reports that only the ques- retaining the designation would be a red line
tion of the US’s terrorist designation of the preventing a JCPOA restart.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) “I think it’s more likely than not that Wash-
stands in the way of an agreement to revive ington and Tehran will find a way around this
the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action impasse to revive the JCPOA,” Henry Rome, a
(JCPOA), prove correct, then a deal to relaunch senior analyst at the Eurasia Group in Washing-
the accord seems eminently achievable. ton, was quoted as saying by RFE/RL on April 2.
As Iran returned from its two-week Nowruz “This will require some creativity and politi-
new holiday period, the US was yet to directly cal cost, but I think there’s enough incentive on
address the question of whether the foreign ter- both sides to push through this obstacle. But it’s
rorist organisation (FTO) designation would be clearly not guaranteed,” he said.
lifted, but there were indications that Washing- Rome added: “The FTO designation has
ton might be content to remove it, while keep- attained a political significance that exceeds its
ing other sanctions applied to the IRGC, such practical implication, which makes compro-
as over claimed human rights abuses, in place. mise particularly challenging.”
When the FTO label was applied under The JCPOA was drawn up to verifiably curb
former US president Donald Trump, it caused Iran’s nuclear programme to ensure it remains
some surprise even among Iran’s foes as it is entirely civilian. In return for compliance,
not usual to sanction the armed forces of a Iran is given a shield against heavy economic
sovereign nation as terrorist. Tehran has said sanctions.™

PROJECTS & COMPANIES

EU closes probe into QatarEnergy practices

QATAR THE European Commission has closed an Ending gas trade with Russia will be a tall
investigation into LNG exporter QatarEnergy order, however, as the country typically accounts
over possible anti-competitive practices, just as for about 40% of the gas that Europe consumes.
the EU is seeking help from Qatar in reducing Qatari Energy Minister and QatarEnergy CEO
its reliance on Russian gas. Saad Al-Kaabi told CNN in an interview on
The probe began in 2018, and was focused March 25 that Russian supplies to Europe would
on the destination clauses that are in QatarEn- not end overnight. Qatar has already commit-
ergy’s long-term contracts with European buy- ted to supply all current contracted volumes to
ers. The Commission was concerned that these Europe, even when it could fetch a higher price
clauses were “possibly preventing or limiting the for the supplies in Asia, in a show of solidarity,
free flow of LNG within the internal market, in the minister said.
breach of EU competition rules. QatarEnergy is currently producing at its
“Today’s closure decision is based on a thor- maximum capacity of around 78mn tonnes
ough analysis of all relevant evidence, including per year. But this capacity is set to reach 110mn
information received from QatarEnergy and the tpy by 2025 or 2026, thanks to the $27bn North
European gas importers,” the EU executive said. Field East project, which the company took a
“The Commission concluded that the evidence final investment decision (FID) on last year. The
collected did not confirm its initial concerns and as-yet-unsanctioned North Field South project
has therefore decided to close its investigation.” is expected to raise this further to 126mn tpy.
The EU and a number of European national The Commission launched its probe into
governments have held discussions with Qatar QatarEnergy’s activities just after ending a sev-
in recent weeks in the wake of Moscow’s inva- en-year market abuse probe into Gazprom,
sion of Ukraine, which has prompted an accepting a pledge by the Russian gas giant to
unprecedented push by Europe to cut energy reform its pricing structure and allow rivals a
ties with Russia. foothold in east Europe. And just before the
The bloc is aspiring to scale back Russian gas Qatari investigation was closed, the Commis-
purchases by as much as two thirds by the end of sion reportedly raided the offices of Gazprom
the year, and phase out supplies from the coun- subsidiaries in Germany over fresh claims of
try altogether by the end of the decade. pricing manipulation.™

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