Trump’s deal lifts oil sanctions on Iran, angering hawks

President Trump’s peace deal with Iran offers waivers on U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil, one of multiple facets of the agreement that is angering Iran hawks, including some Trump allies.

Critics worry that relaxing the sanctions bolsters the economy of a nation hostile toward America and gives away key leverage in the push to get nuclear concessions from Tehran.

The 60-day ceasefire memorandum of understanding (MOU) says that the Treasury Department will immediately waive sanctions on “Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, and all associated services.”

Iran has some of the largest proven oil reserves in the world, but sanctions currently limit how much it is able to export. 

“The initial waiving of sanctions should mean that Iran can sell its oil to a lot more than just China, which has been substantially the only customer in recent years. But pre-sanctions, Iran was selling oil to lots of different countries,” said Clay Seigle, nonresident scholar in energy security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. 

Seigle said that China was previously able to get Iranian oil at a discounted rate, but now, Iran may be able to fetch a higher price for the commodity.

“If China would, in the future, be competing with other potential buyers, that might bid up prices, Iran stands to gain more per barrel,” he added. 

Asked about the impact of lifting the sanctions, Gulf Oil chief oil analyst Tom Kloza said he thinks “Iran has done well” in the deal.

“The amount of money that’s going to be at their disposal to rebuild is pretty staggering,” he said. 

Iran hawks argue that the U.S should not be throwing the adversarial country this financial lifeline. 

“This is a considerable boon to not just Iran, but to the Iranian government, and in particular to the national security apparatus,” said Patrick Clawson, director of the Viterbi Program on Iran and U.S. Policy at the Washington Institute.

Clawson said he views that issue as the “only concession in this agreement for........

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