IRNA - Pakistani English news dailies have slammed the US move to end sanctions waivers for some of the consumers of Iranian oil.

After withdrawing from the JCPOA and re-imposition of unilateral sanctions against Iran the US had agreed to let eight countries, including China, Japan, India and South Korea, Taiwan, Italy and Greece keep buying Iranian oil.

However, in a statement issued on Monday, the White House said US President Donald Trump has decided not to renew waivers that allow eight countries to buy Iranian oil without facing Washington's sanctions.

‘The Nation’ in its editorial comments on Wednesday said 'in the American president Donald Trump, American imperial arrogance finds personification.'

It went on to say the decision carries the seeds of deteriorating the US relations with its allies especially China.

“The US economy can also suffer because of Trump’s move against Iran. In that case, it will be a self-inflicted wound whose timing is wrong as the 2020 elections are around the corner,” viewed the paper.

‘The Nation’ said it is now crystal clear that the real reason for leaving the Iran nuclear deal was not because of Iran’s violation of the agreement but the growing influence of a Middle Eastern country.

“Though Trump is relying on Saudi Arabia’s for pumping more oil to keep the prices steady, the Middle Eastern oil executives are skeptic about Saudi Arabia’s compliance,” it said.
The paper added the decision of the US to sanction its allies comes at a time when Beijing and Washington are trying hard to find a solution for their trade wars.

Another newspaper ‘Pakistan Today’ in its editorial said the recent US anti-Iran move could be catastrophic for regional stability, crude prices, free movement of oil supplies, and for the fragile global economy wobbling under recession.

The editorial said the news of ending Iran oil waivers has instantly resulted in a 3.2 per cent hike in crude prices to $74.31, the highest since 1st November 2018, and caused ripples of concern in the power corridors of China and India, the two major buyers of Iranian oil, as well as in Japan, South Korea and Turkey.

“China, Russia and the EU need to take a principled stand in the UN to thwart such obviously politically motivated US diktat,” it said.