By Mark Armstrong
We’ve become accustomed to the “Death to America, Death to Israel” chants as a staple of Iranian street protests. But in the wake of the controversial decision to extract the United States from the Obama-era agreement, they’ve burned a paper copy of the American flag and held a “Death to America” protest inside the Iranian parliament. In addition, Iranians are threatening to go full speed ahead with uranium enrichment and military nuclear capability.
Iran is more than a little angry. A confluence of events, including a stronger alliance between the US and Saudi Arabia was taken as a provocation. Moving the American Embassy to Jerusalem coincided with the announcement that the Trump administration would not uphold perhaps the worst bargain in American diplomatic history, one that stoked tremendous concern among Israel’s leadership.
After a year or more of consideration, Tuesday May 8 was the day the verdict was announced on the future of the nuclear “deal” with Iran. It was an arrangement that didn’t comprise any treaty approved by Congress, that’s why it was simply called a “deal.” It was heavily criticized at the time, not only because it had a “midnight clause” which gave Iran free reign to manufacture and deploy nuclear weapons after a period of several years, but because it involved unknown quantities of cash delivered via cargo planes under cover of darkness, learned after the fact.
With the announcement of America’s withdrawal from the arrangement, the drums of war immediately began pounding. The Israeli army reported that unusual troop movements in Syria might be preparatory for some retaliation against Israel by Iranian forces stationed there. Within one hour of the announcement, and concerned that Iranian forces were preparing to attack, Israel struck at an installation on the outskirts of Damascus. Bomb shelters were opened for civilians in the area of the Golan Heights and the U. S. embassy warned against travel to the area.
Sure enough, Iranian forces in Syria unleashed a series of rocket attacks in Israel’s general direction. Twenty missiles were reportedly fired, with some taken down by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system. The rest reportedly fell short, landing inside Syrian territory. Israel then unleashed as many as seventy air strikes against Iranian military installations hitting “nearly every target” including launch stations and weapons depots in Syria reportedly killing some 23 Iranians.
Israel’s Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman called it a limited engagement which should not be expanded and issued this memorable quote, “When it rains in Israel it pours in Iran.” A spokesman for Prime Minister Netanyahu said Russia should exert its influence in Syria to prevent the situation from escalating. Separate reports told of Iranian missiles being fired at longtime enemy Saudi Arabia.
It’s no surprise that the secretary general of the UN is expressing “deep disappointment” with President Trump’s decision and is reportedly pressuring European nations to continue abiding with the terms of the agreement even in the absence of U. S. participation. That would certainly make trans-Atlantic relations interesting, as if they weren’t already.
You’ll remember the recent State visit by French President Macron and his wife, immediately followed by a less formal visit from Angela Merkel of Germany. Both were explained as attempts to convince the president to leave the deal in place while perhaps building upon it to address areas of concern. Whatever hopes they had must have been dashed with the announcement of a full revocation and withdrawal from the United States.
John Kerry, who signed the pact as Secretary of State has met recently with some of the international parties to the “deal,” trying to find some method of saving it. His meddling bordered on scandal, as it was in direct contravention of U. S. foreign policy strategy.
The president’s opponents worry that rescinding the arrangement has driven a wedge between the U. S. and primarily European allies. Sure enough, the Europeans began worrying aloud within moments of the announcement of the cancellation. They, both national and EU leaders, are reportedly working to come up with something that President Trump can agree to which would at least save aspects of “the deal,” and therefore save face for European bureaucrats that signed on.
But that effort appears doomed. European media is livid at President Trump for the perceived slight against its diplomats. The real reason national and EU leaders are upset is the financial bonanza their major corporations stand to gain by doing business with Iran. It turns out that France’s Airbus has contracted to build over 100 airplanes for Iran in a multi-billion dollar contract. The French energy flagship Total has entered into highly profitable plans with Iran. Germany also has lucrative energy and technology business arrangements with Iran, and public statements imply they intend to pursue them in defiance of the renewal of American sanctions.
European nations and corporations that continue to trade with Iran face the prospect of running afoul of renewed U. S. sanctions. Simply stated, they may have to risk business relations with the United States if they persist.
According to German flagship Der Speigel, President Trump has thrown the alliance into chaos. Here’s a sample. “The most shocking realization, however, is one that affects us directly: The West as we once knew it no longer exists. Our relationship to the United States cannot currently be called a friendship and can hardly be referred to as a partnership. President Trump has adopted a tone that ignores 70 years of trust. He wants punitive tariffs and demands obedience.”
Relations have been dicey since the president assumed office. Our president embodies every uncouth American stereotype of the traditional European view. For Trump to cancel an agreement that promised massive profits, against the wishes of European leaders and diplomats, is being treated as the ultimate insult. It may well contribute to a “wedge” that leads to lasting acrimony between Europe and the United States.
