Cuba-Iran ties to help counter US sanctions: Pundit

Press TV has conducted an interview with Gloria Estela La Riva, a Latin America expert from San Francisco.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: This is not the first time in recent weeks and months that we’re seeing Iran make a direct effort at strengthening ties with Cuba, what do you make of it all?

La Riva: I think President Rouhani’s visit to Havana is very important especially on the opening of the session of the General Assembly at the United Nations. The both countries are facing sanctions by the United States which are sanctions, blockade are cruel and really genocidal policies that must be opposed by all. So, his visit to Havana is important in strengthening the ties between both countries, both in economic and political agreements.

Press TV: Both countries have been subject to US sanctions in the past, now that we are moving towards this United Nations General Assembly session, how is that going to play out?

La Riva: On October 26 the Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez is going to represent the Resolution 70/5, which relates to the necessity to end the US economic, financial and commercial blockade on Cuba. It’s expected to have an absolutely overwhelming vote. Last year only Israel and the US voted to support the blockade. And for Iran the urgent need to end the sanctions and stop the political and military pressures against the country, which stated clearly that it is not interested in developing nuclear weapons but simply wants the right to develop nuclear energy for peace and for the betterment of the country.

Press TV: US President Barack Obama is going to championing his legacy as that of a president who signed the JCPOA with Iran and ending an era of sanctions, so to speak at least on paper, and also the same thing goes with Cuba where he was the president who reset ties or tried to unfreeze them, but has that actually played out the way it’s been championed by him?

La Riva: Certainly the US blockade on Cuba is still very much in force, the Cuban leaders have spoken about this recently and again the foreign minister presented a report on September 9 at the UN about how the blockade still is harming the country. Under Obama’s term 14 billion dollars has been imposed on foreign banks for accepting Cuban transactions in US dollars. For Iran the pressure still remains by the Republicans and the Democrats in the House and Senate. And there’s very little there has been accomplished on the US part after the agreement was signed with Iran. Basically sanctions are illegal by UN definition, they should never be applied against people for any political purposes.

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