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US withdrawal from Iran
nuke deal to hit India hard
It is possible that New Delhi may now find it difficult to honour its
ASIAN DRAMA commitments with Iran on the Chabahar port project fearing
Syed implications from the US
NooruzzamaN
he controversial US with- by the US, the UN and the EU. Iran was
drawal from the 2015 Iran given an opportunity to choose between
The columnist — former nuclear deal has for the the nuclear weapon and economic
Deputy Editor of The first time caused a huge gap advantages, and it preferred the first
Tribune, Chandigarh — between Washington and option.
specialises in foreign T its European allies — the Iran, of course, abandoned its nuclear
affairs. With a career UK, France and Germany — which were bomb ambitions but not forever. The
spanning 41 years, he signatories to it besides the European deal did not have arrangements for
keeps close watch on Union (EU), China and Russia. The Don- getting Teheran’s nuclear programme
issues related to South ald Trump administration’s decision fully capped. It was agreed that Iran
Asian countries. The has exposed the US as an undependable would be allowed to enrich uranium to
views expressed are nation, which can disown any com- a certain grade on its territory, though
personal mitment made to the international several UN Security Council resolu-
community when it comes to protecting tions were against such an activity
its global interests, seen differently by owing to Iran being a signatory to the
a new administration. The European Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
allies of the US have declared that they President Obama had committed to
will do all that is required to save the arranging a repeal of six major Security
deal, also called the Joint Comprehen- Council resolutions against Iran. It was
sive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and China also agreed that Iran would be allowed
and Russia are as strongly supportive to keep much of its nuclear infrastruc-
of the JCPOA as they were when it was ture intact. The deal with Iran did not
signed during the days of the Barack prevent it from continuing with its
Obama administration. Yet President research and development projects on
Trump has gone for disowning the deal, advanced nuclear technology like that
which, in his opinion, was clinched related to centrifuges. Iran was left to
with most of its terms and conditions remain at least 12 months away from
favouring Iran. He now wants it to be assembling a nuclear bomb if it decided
renegotiated which is not acceptable to walk out of the JCPOA.
US administration’s to Iran. tors as they got more than what they
Iranians proved to be smart negotia-
It was a major achievement for the
decision has Obama administration in the sense that agreed to forego. President Obama was
exposed the US as Iran got barred from producing the in a hurry because of the fast approach-
ing US Presidential elections and, there-
ultimate weapon, the primary objective
an undependable of its nuclear programme. The deal was fore, conceded whatever he could to
nation, which hailed by the international commu- make the Iranians sign the deal. It suited
the reformist Rouhani government,
nity as it had ensured that the balance
can disown any of power in West Asia would remain too, as the economic advantages that
commitment made undisturbed. The reformist Hassan Rou- would accrue from the nuclear agree-
ment were needed to control the price
hani government in Iran accepted the
to the international nuclear deal as the JCPOA was designed rise, promote the export of oil and gas
and generate considerable employment
to boost the country’s economy, reeling
community under economic sanctions imposed opportunities to contain the people’s
Tehelka / 15 june 2018 52 www.Tehelka.com
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