As reported, the term of completion of the thermal power plants in Simferopol and Sevastopol was shifted to 2018 as German Siemens, abiding the EU sanctions, banned supply of already bought turbines for these plants.
"Most likely, this is a scheme of how to present Western equipment as Iranian one and bring it to Crimea... Well-packed scheme of delivery of German equipment to Crimea through Iran. Something will be hooked to a turbine, they will write "Made in Iran" and deliver back to Russia," Gonchar said.
In March 2016, the German industrial group Siemens signed an agreement in the energy sector with the Iranian company "Mapna Group" on the sale of the technology for production of Class F gas turbines.
According to Mykhailo Gonchar, in case of the delivery of the turbines by Iranian company, Siemens formally does not violate Western sanctions against Russia over the annexation of Crimea. However, given the tough stance of the President Donald Trump on Iran, we can expect a harsh reaction of the US against Russia, Iran and the German company.
"The US can punish both Iran, and the Germans, if they do not reconsider compliance with the sanctions regime on Russia. And Trump is set firmly against Iran, so he will look for an occasion. And since it looks like the US do not remove sanctions against the Russian Federation, and wish to restore sanctions against Iran, they can take advantage of such opportunity. Russia and Iran have been putting themselves under risk quite seriously," - the expert said.
