"The defense against the US sanctions assault on Iran is the most crucial
challenge to the world,” Jon Hellevig said in an interview with Tasnim News
Agency.
"All countries must rise to Iran’s defense, otherwise, any country can become
the next victim,” he said, adding, "We must understand that the assault
on Iran is just a major offensive in the US quest to establish absolute world
hegemony, therefore an assault on Iran is an assault on everybody, most notably
so, on Russia and China.”
Jon Krister Hellevig is a Finnish lawyer and businessman who has worked in
Russia since the early 1990s. Hellevig was a candidate in the European
parliament election in 2014. He is the managing partner of the Moscow-based law
company Hellevig, Klein & Usov. Hellevig has written several books, including
Avenir Guide to Russian Taxes (2002, 2003, 2006 English and Russian editions);
Avenir Guide to Labor Laws (2002, 2003, 2006 English and Russian editions).
Expressions and Interpretations, a book on the philosophy of law and the
development of Russian legal practices; Hellevig takes actively part in public
discussion of current affairs and social structure contributing with articles
and commentary in the media. He regularly lectures at international seminars on
various topics.
Following is the full text of the interview:
Tasnim: The Trump administration recently threatened to cut Iranian oil
exports to zero, saying that countries must stop buying its oil from Nov. 4 or
face financial consequences. Washington later softened its threat, saying that
it would allow reduced oil flows of Iranian oil, in certain cases. Since oil is
a strategic product and countries around the world always demand it, would the
US be able to carry out this threat at all?
Hellevig: Well, if the US would be able to cut off Iranian oil exports, then
it would be the beginning of the end of the free world. The defense against the
US sanctions assault on Iran is the most crucial challenge to the world. All
countries must rise to Iran’s defense, otherwise, any country can become the
next victim. We must understand that the assault on Iran is just a major
offensive in the US quest to establish absolute world hegemony, therefore an
assault on Iran is an assault on everybody, most notably so, on Russia and
China. Of course, there is also the subplot, to carve out a regional Middle East
hegemony for Israel, but that basically serves the same goal of establishing an
absolute Anglo-Zionist world hegemony.
In order to establish its absolute world hegemony, the United States would have
to knock out either Russia or China, when one would be taken out, then the other
one would be encircled, too. I see Iran as the last line of defense. If the US
hegemon would succeed in conquering Iran and occupy it with its forces, then
Russia would become very vulnerable.
But it is more than the geopolitical military pressure, it is about destroying
the US sanctions weapon of mass destruction once and for all. For this to
happen, China and Russia must be ready to go all out to neutralize the sanctions
assault on Iran, even if this would mean short-term serious economic damage to
themselves. If it is not done, then the US hegemon will take out Russia’s and
China’s trading partners one by one, and ultimately these two countries
themselves. A strong stand by Russia and China would also help countries like
India to show strength in opposing the illegal and illegitimate sanctions.
Tasnim: Iran is perceived to have threatened to block oil exports through the
Strait of Hormuz, a key Persian Gulf waterway, in retaliation for US efforts to
reduce Iranian oil sales to zero. Analysts say that crude oil prices could jump
as high as US$250 a barrel if Iran goes through with its threat to close the
strait. What do you think? In your opinion, what other measures can Iran do to
counteract US pressures?
Hellevig: It is quite clear that should Iran block oil exports through the
Strait of Hormuz, then it would send the oil price through the roof. This, in
turn, would crush the global capital markets, with enormous consequences for the
world economy. Not least would it affect the US and European bubble economies.
At the same time, we must certainly note that the blocking of the Strait of
Hormuz could also lead to a military intervention by the United States and its
vassal states. This would have the same effect on the global economy but could
lead to even worse consequences for the whole of mankind. A military
intervention like that could lead to unimaginable war escalations.
Iran has no other choice than to work with its partners to neutralize the
sanctions’ effects and to stand militarily firm.
Tasnim: As you know, Trump's threat is part of his walking away from the Iran
nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He
also plans to reinstate anti-Tehran sanctions from November 4. In the meantime,
the European Union has put forward a package of economic measures to offset the
US pullout from the JCPOA. What do you think about the EU’s role in reducing
Washington’s pressures against Tehran?
Hellevig: The role of the European Union is a wild card here. It is clear
from all that has happened in world geopolitics in the last 20 years, that the
European Union and its member states are junior partners in the US New World
Order hegemony project. Now, it is therefore surprising why they have raised
this challenge to the United States. We cannot know if they are serious or just
wagging their tongues. It is possible that this reflects a rift within the
US-led Western elites. Perhaps between a pro-Israel lobby and on the other side
a transatlantic lobby led by the other half of the US Deep State.
Whatever, it is clear that the EU can do only so much because all major EU
corporations are so tightly integrated into the US-led trade and financial
systems. Through their leverage on the Western financial institutions, the US
can easily cut off financing to any European corporation which challenges their
sanctions.
But any signals of real political will to stand up against the US sanctions by
the EU will be welcomed. There has been talk that the EU would enact a blocking
statute which would forbid EU companies from complying with the extraterritorial
effects of US sanctions, allow companies to recover damages arising from such
sanctions from the person causing them, and nullify the effect in the EU of any
foreign court judgments based on them. Eventually, this could possibly enable
European companies to invest in and trade with Iran through Russian and Chinese
vehicles, given that these countries would enable such (a .
Source: Tasnim