Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi told the U.N. General Assembly today that the U.S. could not be trusted after former President Donald Trump cancelled May 8, 2018 former President Barack Obama’s 2015 Iranian Nuke Deal AKA Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA[ Iran the European Union have been trying to reinstate the deal. Obama’s JCP)OA was supposed to slow the breakout time for Iran to produce enough fissile material to develop its first A-bomb. Iran always denied that it had any intention of using its enriched uranium program to create weapons grade material to build a bomb. Yet the U.S., Germany, France, U.K., Russia and China practically stoop on their heads to ink the 2015 JCPOA. When Trump took office Jan. 20, 2017, Iran was in a proxy war against Saudi Arabia, using Yemen’s Houthi rebels to fire Cruise Missiles and drones deep inside the Kingdom.
Trump told Iran to cease-and-desist in their proxy war with Riyadh but continued to attack Saudi Arabia’s international airport, but, more importantly, Aramco’s largest oil refineries. Whether Democrats or the EU admit it or not, Trump did the right thing canceling the JCPOA because it only encouraged Iran to run amok Iran would like nothing more than to gets its sanctions, especially on oil sales, lifted to start generating more oil revenue. When Obama signed the JCPOA he had limited enforcement provisions because Iran refused to allow the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] to inspect military sights. So no one really knew whether Tehran was in compliance with the agreement. Raisi said that the U.S. “trampled” on the JCPOA, Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Iran has had no formal diplomatic relations with the U.S., communicating through the Swiss embassy.
Raisi showed more interest in reviving the JCPOA than the U.S. and EU at this point. “There is a great and serious will to resolve all issues,” Raisi said, saying his government is ready to strike a new deal, after years to complaining about the U.S. With 79-year-old President Joe Biden using his time at the U.N. to blast Russian President Vladimir Putin for the Ukraine War, Raisi tried to open the door to more diplomacy on a new Iranian Nuke Deal, Raisi said the U.S. and EU paid too much attention to Iran’s nuclear program, giving other countries like Israel a pass. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied the presence of a nuclear program but most countries believe it has an active one. “We will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons,” said Biden, only temporarily shifting off his favorite target, Putin. Biden can’t stop slamming Putin, blaming him for the “unprovoked” war in Ukraine.
Raisi brought up the assassination of Al-Qud’s Gen. Qassem Soleimani, assassinated Jan. 2, 2020 by a U.S. predator drone in Baghdad. Raisi called Soleiman an “freedom-seeking man.” Raisi knows that Soleimani supervised Iran’s proxy forces in Syra, Lebanon and the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf. Soleiman’s forces routinely Limpet-mined oil freighters in the Gulf or harassed international shipping through the strait of Hormuz where his swift-boats intimidate or attack safe passage in international waters. Raisi told the General Assembly that Iran seeks friendly relations with all its Gulf neighbors, including Saudi Arabia. That’s a far cry from Iran’s Houthi proxy war routinely bombing Saudi sovereign territory. Raisi knows how punitive economic sanctions since Trump cancelled the JCPOA have devalued Iran’s currency, fueled inflation and left Iran without much cash.
Raisi said the U.S. and EU economic sanctions as “punishment on the people of Iran,” unfairly hurting Iran’s economy. Raisi’s first speech at the U.N. General Assembly was far less belligerent than Biden, who couldn’t stop slamming Putin. Iran has close ties to the Russian Federation, seeking to joint the BRICS economic bloc, including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Joining BRICS would give Iran more access to sell its crude oil, though could wind up competing with Putin as he circumvents Western sanctions. When you look at Raisi’s tone compared to Biden, he’s far more diplomatic, even in expressing doubt whether the U.S. could ever be trusted again with any agreement. Raisi has his own problems in Iran with younger generations rejecting Mullah rule, especially recently after a death of 22-year-old women at the hands of the Basij moral police.
Before the Biden administration enters into any new Nuke Deal with Iran, there’d better be verification and enforcement provisions if the Ayatollah Ali Khaemeini really wants an end to U.S. and EU sanctions on Iran’s oil sales. IAEA inspectors must have access of all, not some, uranium enrichment sites. Whether Iran considers the sites military or civilian, the IAEA must have access to all sights, without exceptions. Raisi showed far more civility at the U.N. than his predecessors that used speaking to the General Assembly as a forum for invectives. No one gave a more abrasive speech than Biden today, spending much of his time denouncing Russian President Vladimir Putin. Biden’s already killed U.S.-Russian relations for generations, what’s he trying to do now: Start World War III? Members of the U.N. General Assembly don’t agree with Biden’s ire, preferring more diplomacy in the peacemaking body.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
