Iran’s growing power and influence in the Middle East is a major cause of concern for the imperialist United States. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the Ayatollah Khamenei and Iranian Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri to discuss a variety of issues, and U.S. aggression in the Middle East was a major topic.
The Ayatollah commented at one point that “…the U.S. poses a threat to humanity…” but further stated that that threat can be harnessed, with Iran and Russia working together.
An example of containing U.S. global threats was discussed at the meeting. In Syria, where Iran and Russia have worked together to defeat U.S.-financed and U.S.-trained terrorists, U.S. goals have been thwarted, as the Syrian government retakes more and more areas that were previously held by these terrorists. As of this writing, there are few pockets within Syria that are not under the control of the Syrian government, and efforts by the U.S. and Israel to strengthen the terrorists are failing. The U.S. wanted to install a puppet government in Syria, one that would do its bidding, and bow to Israel.
Additionally, the U.S. is supporting the brutal Saudi Arabian assault on the people of Yemen, but that aggression, too, is not going well. The recent Saudi bombing of a school bus filled with young children, with bombs provided by the U.S., has brought international outrage against the aggressor nations. And while Yemen is a poverty-stricken nation, its people bravely oppose outside efforts to direct the way in which they govern themselves.
Another topic was the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the agreement made between Iran and China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the U.S. This agreement regulated Iran’s nuclear development, in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions against that country. Although this agreement was unnecessary, since Iran’s government spokespeople have always said that that nation’s nuclear program was only for peaceful purposes, Iran agreed to it to ease the unjust sanctions. It must also be noted that Iran, unlike U.S. ally Israel, is a signatory of the internationally-recognized Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Iran’s part of the JCPOA was to allow United Nations inspections of all its nuclear sites. Since the signing of the agreement, the United Nations has declared periodically that Iran is in complete compliance. Even the U.S. government has admitted that Iran is compliant, yet U.S. President Donald Trump has violated international law and withdrawn from the agreement. He has reinstated the sanctions, and demanded that the other signatories of the agreement cease doing business with Iran, under threat of economic sanctions against them. Mr. Putin said that “The U.S. has created a difficult situation by inappropriate measures, and the Europeans are, in practice, following the U.S. because of their dependence on them, even though they announce they, nevertheless, look for ways to maintain the JCPOA”.
The leaders of the other nations and the EU have all condemned Trump’s decision, and have vowed to remain in the JCPOA, but as the Ayatollah emphasized, they are not fulfilling their responsibilities to Iran, due to the threats from the U.S. There is, of course, no reason for Iran to abide by the agreement, if the other nations are not doing so.
When Trump violated international law by withdrawing from the JCPOA, thus eroding the credibility of the U.S. to keep any international commitment, he stated that the agreement did not go far enough; he wants to prevent Iran from being able to protect itself in any way. But this is disingenuous; the Ayatollah noted that the real reasons for Trump’s contempt of Iran are not based in Iran’s defensive capabilities. The U.S. has been trying for nearly forty years, since the successful Islamic Revolution, to destroy Iran. The U.S. cannot tolerate any nation that is self-governing that doesn’t follow the dictates of the U.S. The Iranian people, in 1979, successfully and peacefully overthrew the brutal, U.S.-backed government of the Shah, and established a government of their own choosing, one that is and always has been willing to oppose U.S. demands.
Mr. Putin commented that the meeting with the Ayatollah stressed “…expanding relations between the two countries in all areas, especially via economic and commercial cooperation”. This is important, since it will benefit the economies of both nations, and will help to outweigh some of the consequences of U.S. sanctions.
Increased cooperation between Iran and Russia, not only in the economic sphere, but also militarily, will increase the chance for peace in the Middle East.
Increased cooperation between Iran and Russia, not only in the economic sphere, but also militarily, will increase the chance for peace in the Middle East. With U.S. influence waning, there is a greater chance that Middle Eastern nations will be left alone to resolve their own challenges without having to expend time, energy, money and lives fighting U.S.-backed terrorists attempting to overthrow their governments. Without U.S. interference, Syria and Yemen would be peaceful nations, Libya would not be suffering from the chaos that now engulfs it, Afghanistan would be able to begin the arduous task of rebuilding after nearly two decades of U.S. aggression, Iraqis could establish their own government, and Palestine would be free. Iran and Russia are key players in bringing about a more peaceful world. Their continued and strengthening alliance is a hopeful sign in a war-ravaged world.
