Impasse in the Iran-US relations British analyst explains

Interviews 13:52 09.05.2019

Recent political tensions across the Middle East region occupied a great deal of attention in the international arena. Many International Organizations and Western countries are pushing for bringing peace into the conflict ridden regions of the Middle East, but this process seems to be rather difficult to end in constructive results in near future. Conflicts of interest among key players such as Iran, US in the region and in the world cause peace process slow down, and some questions arise regarding to the future of the region. With this concern, Eurasia Diary addressed some questions to an award-winning journalist, an expert on the Middle East Hugh Miles to understand recent tensions between Iran and US and their repercussions.

 

- US sent an aircraft carrier to the Middle East against Iran threats? What kind of threat is this? Or is there any credible threat to US by Iran in the region?

- The US has withdrawn from some parts of what it promised to Iran under the JCPOA. In response in the last few days, the Iranians have said they have no alternative but to start to do some of the things they agreed not to do under the terms of the JCPOA. Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened they could retaliate by blocking the Straits of Hormuz. The US is sending an aircraft carrier to reduce this possibility. Trump also has his eye on the 2020 election and knows that increasing pressure on Iran is popular with his political backers and base.

 

- The Trump Administration came up with a plan named Middle East Peace Plan? What is it exactly about?

-The Trump Administration has not come up with a peace plan. Jared Kushner keeps alluding to it, but no plan has yet appeared. There has however been plenty of speculation about what a plan might look like.

 

- Is it possible to bring actual peace to the region by excluding Iran? Will threatening Iran contradict with the aim of Middle East Peace Plan?

- Iran is an integral part of the region, and it is not about to disappear. Excluding it is not viable in the pursuit of peace. Peace talks are held with your enemies, not your friends.

 

- Iran decided to scale down its part in the nuclear deal. And it seems Rouhani demand economic promises from EU countries. What kind of results may come out if the EU decline his demands besides enriching nuclear facilities?

- The Europeans continue to seek a way to deal with Iran without running into US sanctions, a process so far unconcluded. If the Europeans also pull out of the JCPOA then pressure on Iran to abandon parts of its obligations under the agreement will increase. The Europeans are, however, fairly marginal players in this story. The real question is what will Iran and US do?

Hugh Miles is an award-winning freelance journalist and author, a presenter, producer and consultant specialising in the Middle East. He is also editor of Arab Digest.

He was born in Jedda, Saudi Arabia in 1977. Miles was educated in Libya, at the Dragon School, Oxford, and at Eton. He studied Arabic at Pembroke College, Oxford University, and English Literature at Trinity College, Dublin. During a one-year student exchange programme with the Sorbonne University in Paris, Miles worked as the Nightlife Editor for Time Out Paris, also reviewing restaurants and shops. His work included sampling every crêpe house in Paris.

Hugh Miles is the author of two books: "Al Jazeera: How Arab TV News Challenged the World", "Playing Cards in Cairo"

 

Islam Mammadov

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