Zamir AWAN -- US-Iran Tensions Enter Into A New Stage

US-Iran Tensions Enter Into A New Stage

Written by Zamir AWAN on 04/01/2020 

The history of US-Iran tensions goes back to the late 1970s, when the Americans supported the Raza Shah Pahlavi the last Emperor of Iran, against the popular revolt against Emperor led by Khamenei. It was natural that there were anti-Americans sentiments in the revolutionary forces. But the US attitude toward the Iranian New governments was also like stepmothers and openly threatening, harming, coercing the newly established revolution. Unfortunately, tilt date American dreams never come true!

In fact, there was over engaged in destabilizing the new government and plotted several conspiracies against Iran, with the expectation that the Revolution may fail and Shah’s rule may be restored once again and the American may enjoy the pre-revolutionary facilitations in Iran.

Illogical unilateral withdrawal for the Trump Administration from Iran-Nuclear Deal has heated the issue even more. Since then, the taking charge of Washington, the Trump Administration has taken several measures to please Israel, one of them was anti-Iran as on the top of the agenda.

Posing Iran a threat to the oil-rich Gulf States in the Middle-East, the US has sold worth billions of dollars of advanced weapons to Arabs, which they never needed nor possess the capability to use. Even blaming Iran, for attacking Saudi Oil facilities, for which Iran does not have such capacities. Only Israel and the US have such an attack’s capability. But blaming Iran means selling more weapons.

The ailing US economy, seeking support by selling more weapons. The only country in the world, having a huge defense budget worth 738 Billion is depending on weapons business. As the US cannot compete, China in Trade-War, the option for the Americans was only the weapon business. However, even they may face severing completion from Russia in advance weapons, yet, are making good money.

The recent incident on 03rd of January 2020, Friday after a US air attack killed Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander and his close aid accompanying him, has worsened the situation. The Pentagon confirmed the strike, saying it came “at the direction of the president”.

This is the first time when such a direct attack happened, and such high-level causality happened. It is rather serious and cannot be over-looked.

Protesters set fires in front of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for three days of mourning, saying Major-General Soleimani’s killing will double the motivation of the resistance against the United States and Israel. According to Iranian state TV, Khamenei said harsh revenge awaits “criminals” who killed Soleimani. This is expected and very much natural, the Iranian reaction is understandable.

Keeping silent on such a big incident means accepting the US hegemony. Even, the reaction from Russia and China is expected soon. If China and Russia kept silent, it means open field for the American in this part of the world.

However, geopolitics has changed already. It is not the same situation of Iraq war or Libyan War., where the US unilaterally took action without involving the UN and without any resistance from any other country like China and Russia. The Americans faced huge resistance from Russian in Syria.

Iran maintains close relations with China and Russia and shares strategic interests. There must be Russian and Chinese stand on this issue. Although, Russia and China know the consequences of escalation and may be very much conscious, but have to maintain check and balance in the region. They understand their global obligations and responsibilities too.

Major-General Soleimani

The US’s role in the middle-east, especially anti-Muslim drive has changed the American perception in the region. Although some of the Governments in this region might be a close ally with Washington, public sentiments are contrary. In the long wars, it is the public who wins, not the Government. The best example is Afghanistan, where the Government is fully surrendered to the US, but it is the people of Afghanistan, who will win their long war.

It looks the Iran-US tension at the peak, but Iran is a sensible state and understands the consequences of full-scale war, may not retaliate immediately. Iranian reaction will be appropriate at an appropriate moment.

And I am convinced that if American can get all the benefits, of selling weapons to Middle-East, why they should take a risk of War. There may not be a full-fledged war in the near future.

Reposts are welcomed with the reference to ORIENTAL REVIEW.