US isn't concerned with Iran’s nuclear threat but with its oil power – activist

The US says China is no longer opposed to potential sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. President Barack Obama will now hope to find agreement at the United Nations on new punitive measures against Tehran.

But author and activist Phil Wilayto believes that what's driving American policy is not Iran's potential nuclear threat.

“The Iran sanctions act is working its way through Congress and I believe it may be passed by both the House and Senate, and that would among other things sanction countries that sold refined gasoline products to Iran or assisted Iran in developing its own oil refinery capacity. And that tells you more than anything else that the issue is not nuclear weapons or nuclear power,” Wilayto said. “The issue is preventing Iran from becoming a regional oil power. Iran represents a regional power that the US cannot control.”