by Peter Lyukimson, Israel. Exclusively for VK
Israel is concerned about Turkey helping Iran evade economic sanctions. Israel made such conclusion basing on reports of the Turkish Statistical Institute for the first half of 2012. The document states that Turkish exports of gold reached a record of $4 billion at the said period. 75% of gold was exported to Iran, exceeding the exports of gold at the same period in 2011 8-fold.
Turkish gold was purchased by some of the richest families in Iran. Turkish papers Vatan and Today Zaman said that the businessmen were acting under supervision of the Iranian government. Israel brings to notice that all gold purchases were made at Halk Bank, a state bank in Turkey, which reconfirms the fact that Turkish officials were involved.
Gold allows Iran to purchase industrial goods and food bypassing international banks and other legal financial structures, thus reducing the impact of international sanctions.
Israel may request the US and EU to stop Turkey and convince it to join the anti-Iranian sanctions. It would have been much easier if Turkey and Israel had the same relations as until 2008.
The US administration has pointed out Turkey’s ignoring sanctions against Iran and urged it to join the sanctions at recent meetings in Ankara. As a response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry admitted that 40% of oil imported in Turkey comes from Iran. Turkish diplomats say that Ankara would gladly find an alternate source of energy resources, but it has not found any yet.
Meanwhile, information agencies say that sanctions against Iran are starting to work: the country has food problems, has queues for bread. The question is whether it is enough to stop the Iranian nuclear program.
