Trump and Israel want war against Iran, but it will not be one-sided
Abdel Bari Atwan
THIS week’s headlines have been dominated by reaction to US President Donald Trump’s bluster against North Korea during his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. This has overshadowed the ominous references he made in the same speech to Iran.
Anyone listening to will have been left with two impressions: Trump’s speech faithfully echoed the utterances of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and it brazenly beat the drums of war against Iran.
Trump described Iran as a ‘rogue state’ and ‘corrupt dictatorship’ that exports violence, anarchy, and bloodshed. He also said that he had reached a decision regarding the P5 + 1 nuclear agreement with Iran, while declaring to disclose what it is. This has led many observers to conclude that he will soon withdraw from the agreement, in line with his electoral promise to tear it up on the grounds that it is the worst agreement in US history, and in deference to the dictates of the Israel lobby.
Trump is broadly expected to announce the US ‘withdrawal from the agreement in mid-October when he testifies to Congress in his semi-annual review. This is likely to be accompanied by a further tightening of the sanctions and the economic blockade on Iran. And it could prompt the Iranian government to immediately resume the enrichment of uranium at very high levels, to produce nuclear warheads.
It was no coincidence that shortly before Trump spoke, Netanyahu demanded that the nuclear agreement be scrapped or altered, while likening Iran to a hungry tiger on a wicked rampage in the region and the world. Nor was it a coincidence for Israeli Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot to announce that Israel has plans already in place for attacking Iran and Hezbollah, which he described as an Iranian surrogate with growing kidnapping and intelligence-gathering capacity (via pilot-less drones) which was a top Israeli concern.
The Israel is the only country that backs Trump’s stand on nulear deal. The EU is opposed to it, especially French President Emmanuel Macron who warned it would be a ‘mistake’ for the US to withdraw from the nuclear agreement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed the same view and vowed that his country would continue to uphold the deal.
Trump is literally implementing Israeli dictates. He is planning to drag his country and the world into a ruinous war in the Middle East: a war in which main victims will be Arabs and Muslims, and which will not spare the citizens of those states that host American military bases, which along with Israel can be targetted in the case of any Iranian retaliation.
Iran will certainly not stand by with folded arms in response to the attempt to cancel the agreement in which it spent five years negotiating with the six major powers, and ratchet up the economic sanctions that have stifled it for decades and inflicted huge damage on its economy and its people’s livelihoods. President Hassan Rowhani responded by stressing that his country was ready for all scenarios, including that of immediately resuming its nuclear activities. Revolutionary Guard Commander Mohammad-Ali Jafari went further, threatening to deliver a painful blow to the US if compelled to do so. Saturday’s test of a new ballistic missile a few days after Trump’s speech – apparently taking a leaf out of North Korea’s book – was intended to demonstrate that Iran is not prepared to take his threats.
After the failure of his plans in Syria and the entire region, and after the compassionate embargo imposed on it by North Korean President Kim Jong-un, who defied him by carrying out fresh nuclear and missile tests, Trump wanted to return to the Middle East to stoke fires. He seems to be confident that the region’s oil-rich governments will cover the war’s expenses and will not mind the sufferings of their citizens.
But the Israel who is pushing this war will also pay heavy price. Its citizens too will not be secure as hundreds of thousands of missiles will be aimed at their cities and settlements from Iran, Lebanon and Syria. It would be the mother of all wars. This time round, however, it will not be one-sided.
Trump is playing with fire. He may not only burn his fingers but also millions of innocent people will suffer due to his disturbed tendencies and the megalomania which dominates his behavior.
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