Tuesday 26 September 2017 - 10:50
Story Code : 277267
Why Trump hostility on nuclear deal empowers reactionaries in Iran
Sputnik - By criticizing the nuclear accord with Iran Trump is trying to get new concessions from Tehran, however, experts believe that it could result in mounting tensions in the Middle East since renegotiation of the deal is likely to disturb the political balance in Iran.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) President Donald Trumps stubborn diplomatic pressure onTehran torenegotiate the nuclear deal is only empowering reactionary elements insideIran and disrupting the countrys ideological balance, analysts told Sputnik.
Trump, inhis first speech tothe UN General Assembly last week, called the 2015 nuclear accord, known asthe Joint Comprehensive Plan ofAction (JCPOA), an "embarrassment" and one ofthe worst deals the United States had ever entered.
And onSeptember 20, US Ambassador tothe UN Nikki Haley told ABC's "Good Morning America" that Trump firmly believes Iran was violating the accord bycarrying outballistic missile testingand providing support toterrorists.
Iran's Reactionaries
US Academics forPeace Executive Director and Conscience International President James Jennings told Sputnik that Trump did not appear toanticipate the possible responses his hostile moves would promote inTehran.
"There is a narrow field ofaction, butIran refuses tobe pushed around," he said. "The Rouhani government can only retreat so far beforeenergizing the conservative bloc, which would upset whatever balance exists inTehran atthe moment."
Trump most likely was not seeking todeliberately provoke a full-scale war withIran butimagined that his threats and bluster would force the Tehran government toagree torenegotiate the 2015 agreement, Jennings explained.
"It is part ofTrumps technique. He is merely followingthe method laid outin his book, The Art ofthe Deal. He is most likely trying toget new concessions fromIran, which would please Israel and give him a prestigious win," he said.
However, even the leadership ofthe US armed forces opposed Trumps efforts toscrap the 2015 agreement.
"The Pentagon will resist changing it [the nuclear accord] atthis point because it would complicate their mission. There is no clear violation, even if it is claimed by [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu`s minions inthe Congress," he said.
Iran could respond toTrumps efforts toscrap the accord byusing its influence tostir upunrest atdifferent key places acrossthe Middle East forcing the United States tofurther commit its already over-stretched armed forces, Jennings predicted.
The best hope ofmoderating Trumps determination toconfront Tehran lay inthe possible moderating influence ofthe former senior military officers that he had surrounded himself with, Jennings suggested.
White House Rivalry
Author and historian Reese Erlich told Sputnik that while there was serious debate inthe Trump administration abouthow todeal withIran, all the different competing factions agreed intheir determination todestroy the 2015 accord.
"There is fierce debate withinthe Trump administration onhow totactically respond tothe nuclear accord. All factions oppose the accord, butsome want todecertify US participation and openly abrogate the agreement," he pointed out.
Even relative moderates inthe administration were determined tointensify economic and international pressure onIran, Reese cautioned.
"Others want toformally accept the agreement while undercutting it bypassing new sanctions and pressuring international corporations not toinvest inIran," Erlich said. Either option is a serious violation ofboth US and international law and a blow topeace efforts inthe region."
In July 2015, Iran, the European Union and the so-called P5+1 group ofnations the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, France and Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan ofActions (JCPOA), which envisions gradual lifting ofnuclear-related sanctions imposed onTehran inexchange forassurances that its nuclear program would remain peaceful.
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