The big picture:
Trump has officially threatened the Islamic Republic of Iran with a military attack while noting that the U.S. would support an Israeli military attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.
Why it matters:
Any act of aggression by the US will have severe consequences in the region, as Iran has emphasized its commitment to defending its sovereignty and national interests.
State of play:
The threat comes as the US is a de facto holder of nuclear weapons. Furthermore, Trump's claims are considered threats against an independent country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The threats are in contrast with Article 2, paragraph 4, of the UN Charter.
- All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.
What he's saying:
Trump: "I would like to make a deal without bombing them…There are two ways to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon: 'With bombs or with a written piece of paper.'"
Flashback:
The U.S., under Donald Trump, unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA on May 18, 2018; the agreement was established in 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 countries (Russia, China, the UK, Germany, France, and the U.S.). The deal aimed to lift Western sanctions on Iran. Iran fulfilled its commitments to the international deal. Trump, however, scrapped the JCPOA and reimposed more sanctions on Iran.
What they're saying:
Iran has time and again noted that WMDs, including nuclear bombs, have no place in its defense doctrine.
Iran's ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, in a letter to the UN Security Council, described Trump's remarks as "reckless and inflammatory."
Leader of the Islamic Revolution: "Iran has never initiated escalation but is fully prepared to defend itself if necessary."
The bottom line:
Based on what was said, some questions would be raised in mind: how can the NPT-signatory Iran achieve a nuclear bomb as it has given access to the IAEA inspectors to monitor its nuclear program? How can the U.S. support a regime, Israel, that is not a signatory of the NPT? Is there any other reason that has caused the U.S. to panic about Iran?
Mohammad Kazemi
