- Trump’s another misadventure
Trump’s tearing up of the Iran nuclear deal could turn out to be the first step towards imposing a war on Iran. Trump is keen to appease Israel and its regional partners. The US would be accused of committing another crime in case it targets yet another country which has not harmed it. Iraq, Libya and Syria who were once known for internal stability have already been subjected to American aggression leading to the destruction of their economy and internal stability. The US intervention has created an environment conducive to the birth as well as relocation of deadly terrorist network like al Qaeda, Zarqawi’s al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, Al-Nusra Front and the deadliest of them all— the IS . Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions turned into refugees. Any attack on Iran could lead to even deadlier consequences for the countries in the region including Pakistan.
Trump’s claim that the Iran deal could not prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb belies the facts. The IAEA inspectors have confirmed again and again that Iran is complying with the deal. Even Secretary of Defense James Mattis has said the verification mechanisms in the deal are “robust.”
The Iranian administration has reacted with maturity to the provocation. President Hassan Rouhani has expressed his country’s commitment to the multinational nuclear deal. It is now for the other five signatories i.e., Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China to remain steadfast to their commitment. Unless they do so, the hardliners in Iran are likely to pressurise the Rouhani government to resume uranium enrichment and restrict inspections.
Trump has threatened to clamp sanctions on any country that does not abide by the renewed US sanctions. This is easier said than done. So far all the remaining five countries have expressed solidarity with the deal. A number of other countries including Japan need oil from the region and trade with Iran and would resent the cancellation of the Iran nuclear deal. Pakistan too is keen to import gas from the neighbouring country and expand bilateral trade. Trump’s threat of sanctions will further push Pakistan towards China and Russia.
