Iran’s growing cooperation with North Korea is a strong reiteration of Tehran having clearly moved away from the west.
Author
Tridivesh Singh Maini, Assistant Professor, Jindal School of International Affairs, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India.
Summary
Iran-US ties have witnessed a steady deterioration ever since the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal 2015, also referred to as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action JCPOA, during the Trump Administration in 2018. Current US President, Joe Biden initially made efforts towards reducing tensions with Iran and reviving the Iran nuclear deal. It would be pertinent to point out that the Biden administration had also turned a blind eye to Iran’s sale of oil, in violation of US sanctions, in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Iran’s violation of nuclear commitments made under JCPOA, supply of arms to Russia – during the Russia-Ukraine war and the current situation in the Middle East, where the Iran-Israel conflict could escalate further, has reduced the scope of reduction of tensions between Washington and Tehran. Biden also faced strong opposition domestically – especially from Republican policy makers – for his Iran policy. Donald Trump blamed Biden’s decision of releasing $6 billion for Iran for humanitarian purposes – in return for a prisoner swap – and relaxation of sanctions for the turmoil in the Middle East. The former US President said that the above decisions of the Biden administration were a blunder since they enabled Iran the space to provide financial assistance to Hamas (several other Republican lawmakers have criticised Biden’s Iran policy).
Published in: DNA
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