You are here

Where the problem lies

Apr 23,2017 - Last updated at Apr 23,2017

The international community is getting confused by the conflicting, inconsistent signals the US sends on Iran. 

During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump had vowed to dismantle the nuclear accord former president Barack Obama and major European nations had struck with Iran, whereby the latter was to limit its nuclear ambitions and forego the nuclear programme in exchange for a removal of economic sanctions that had crippled its economy.

Later Trump gave no indication that he would pull out of the deal.

On Thursday, Trump accused Iran of “not living up to the spirit of the deal and said that his administration is analysing it very, very carefully, and we’ll have something to say about it in the not-too-distant future”. 

His criticism of Iran came a day after his secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, had said that Iran was “fomenting” discord and that “unchecked Iran has the potential to travel the same path as North Korea and take the world along with it” and two days after the same Tillerson had declared that Iran was meeting its obligations under the nuclear deal.

Another fine example of dithering, conflicting messages that the world is left to untangle and make sense of.

The US secretary of defence also mentioned the destabilising influence Iran has in the Middle East, in reference to its involvement in Yemen.

So now the US’ preoccupation with Iran will make it, avowedly, follow Tehran closely to see whether it respects the promises regarding the nuclear programme, and therefore stick to the deal, or... 

The thing is, the nuclear deal with Iran was reached not by the US alone. Several other nations were involved; it was painstakingly negotiated before being agreed to. 

It, therefore, cannot be renegotiated or repudiated without a reason, and it is not up to the US alone to cast doubts about it. 

As for Iran’s role in the region and perception that it is a contributor to its instability, both the US and the rest of the international community should be as concerned as the Arab countries.

It is an issue that indeed deserves scrutiny.

Whether in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon or Yemen, Iran’s influence is well recognised, and this should be a focal point of concern for Washington and other major capitals.

Tehran’s role in all these countries is well documented and requires a collective response. 

Iran continues to arm Hizbollah in Lebanon and Houthis in Yemen, its machinations are still felt in Iraq and it is propping Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria. Its influence can be felt in nearly all regional conflicts.

 

This is where the problem is, and this where attention must be seriously turned.

up
56 users have voted.


Newsletter

Get top stories and blog posts emailed to you each day.

PDF