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Experts: "Robust" EU Sanctions No Match for Tehran's Tricks
(JTA) Cnaan Liphshiz - The EU's net of sanctions around Iran has large holes that allow Tehran to penetrate Europe through Turkey, China and even Lebanon-based Hizbullah, among other entities. In the EU process, companies suspected of being Iranian fronts can be blacklisted only after review and based on hard evidence, which requires much time and effort by intelligence agencies. "By the time one such company is blacklisted, the Iranians have set up 10 new ones," said Emanuele Ottolenghi of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies in Washington. A simple Iranian trick is trading with Europe through Turkey, Ukraine, Taiwan and Japan. In addition, "by sanctioning Iran and not Hizbullah, the European Union is virtually inviting Iran to do business through hundreds, if not thousands, of Hizbullah-affiliated proxies all over the continent," said Wim Kortenoeven, a former Dutch lawmaker.