SearchRecent comments
Democracy LinksMember's Off-site Blogs |
lies have been piling up over three decades....."The legitimacy of the leadership depends on what that country thinks of its leaders. When we lay off, more and more Iranians tend to be critical of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The more abusive we are and the more pressure we put on them, the more nationalism fuses with fundamentalism in Iran." - Zbigniew Brzezinski
The Stakes of Donald Trump’s Negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran
The difference between the two lay in their understanding of the negotiations in Ukraine. For the former, it was Donald Trump’s revenge against Volodymyr Zelensky, or a genuflection before Vladimir Putin. For the latter, it was, on the contrary, a desire for peace with Russia in order to devote US resources to its economic recovery. It follows that the two sides approach the Iranian issue differently. For the former, it is a matter of continuing the chaos that began during the first term with the withdrawal from the nuclear agreement (JCPOA). Conversely, for the latter, it is a desire for peace with Iran, given that it is the only regional power that supports the resistance to Israel. In early March 2024, President Donald Trump sent a letter to the leader of the Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The existence of this document was mentioned by the author himself during his speech to Congress on March 4, and then debated in the press. According to Sky News Arabia, which read this document, Donald Trump called for negotiations, while specifying: “If you reject the outstretched hand and choose the path of escalation and support for terrorist organizations, I warn you of a swift and determined response […] I am writing this letter with the aim of opening new horizons for our relations, away from the years of conflict, misunderstandings and unnecessary confrontations that we have witnessed in recent decades […] The time has come to leave hostility behind and open a new page of cooperation and mutual respect.” A historic opportunity presents itself to us today […] We will not stand idly by in the face of your regime’s threats against our people or our allies […] If you are willing to negotiate, so are we. But if you continue to ignore the world’s demands, history will testify that you missed a great opportunity." Simultaneously, the United States and the United Kingdom launched several attacks against Ansar Allah in Yemen. Unlike previous attacks, these did not target hidden military targets, but rather political targets scattered among the civilian population. They therefore killed leaders of the movement and many other collateral victims, which constitutes war crimes. It should be recalled that Ansar Allah, pejoratively referred to by Westerners as the "Houthi family gang" or "the Houthis," attacks Israeli ships in the Red Sea in order to force Tel Aviv to agree to allow humanitarian aid to pass through to Gaza. Washington and London, believing that this was hampering international trade, and having failed to obtain approval from the Security Council, resumed the war. They initially targeted military objectives and quickly realized that these, buried deep within the country, could not be significantly affected. Donald Trump’s letter only arrived in Tehran on March 12, and the Iranian response was slow in coming. It is important to understand that while Tehran was flattered by Washington’s secret handwritten approach, it could not accept several aspects of its behavior. • First, the United States, faithful to Trump’s Art of the Deal technique, threatened Iran while trying to placate it. International relations are not governed by the same rules as business. Giving in to threats is a sign of weakness that the Iranians could not accept in these negotiations. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei commented on March 28: "The enmity of the United States and Israel has always existed. They threaten to attack us, which we believe is not very likely, but if they commit a misdeed, they will certainly receive a strong blow in return." If the enemies think they can instigate sedition in the country, the Iranian nation itself will respond to them." President Donald Trump further emphasized this on March 30, telling NBC News: "If they don’t reach an agreement, there will be bombing. It will be bombing like they’ve never seen before." According to the United Nations Charter (Article 2, paragraph 4), "members of the Organization shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state." • Moreover, massacring the leaders of Ansar Allah was a gratuitous war crime: General Qassem Soleimani, by reorganizing the "Axis of Resistance," had given Iran’s former proxies their complete freedom. Tehran currently has no influence, other than ideological, over Ansar Allah. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani therefore raised these points at the United Nations [3]. Ultimately, Iran sent a secret response to the secret letter from the United States, and negotiations were able to begin, but only indirectly. That is, the two delegations did not speak directly to each other, but only through a mediator. In this way, Tehran responded to the invitation, but expressed its disapproval of the manner in which it was convened. Intervening directly, France and the United Kingdom convened a closed-door meeting of the Security Council. Paris and London wished to address several outstanding issues. As nothing has been leaked, it is unclear whether President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer wanted to clarify what had caused all other attempts at negotiations to fail or, on the contrary, to obscure what could have been further obscured. The following day, March 13, Mohammad Hassan-Nejad Pirkouhi, Director General for International Peace and Security at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, summoned the ambassadors of the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. He criticized them for an "irresponsible and provocative" meeting of the Security Council, which abused UN mechanisms. He emphasized that while Iran no longer respects its commitment not to enrich uranium above 3.67%, it is still respecting its JCPoA commitments to IAEA inspectors and fulfilling its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It should be recalled that, generally speaking, Iran, following the United States, withdrew from the JCPoA and the secret bilateral agreements of the time, yet it still observes its JCPoA commitments [4]. In contrast, France and the United Kingdom, while claiming to respect the JCPoA, have taken no measures to address the consequences of the US withdrawal, in violation of the spirit of the text. The United Kingdom immediately responded by stating that it was prepared to reinstate UN sanctions by October 18 (the deadline for this procedure) if Iran did not curb its uranium enrichment. The UN sanctions were, in fact, suspended, not repealed. Three rounds of indirect negotiations have already taken place. The US delegation was led by Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, and the Iranian delegation by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The first and third meetings were held in Muscat and Oman, while the second was held at the Sultanate’s embassy in Rome, in the presence of the Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafel Grossi of Argentina. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood al-Busaidi, Omani Foreign Minister, acted as mediator at each opportunity, moving back and forth between the delegations. Numerous statements were made by the US side, accumulating imprecisions and contradictions, both regarding previous rounds of negotiations and especially regarding Washington’s red lines. Each side therefore believes it understands what it wants. In Iran, too, the public debate is particularly obscure. However, we note that one current, drawing lessons from the Libyan and Korean affairs, maintains that if Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini were still alive, he would likely rescind his fatwa condemning weapons of mass destruction and, on the contrary, authorize the atomic bomb. Not because he would now find it moral from a Muslim perspective, but because it would protect Iran from the threats it faces. Indeed, Muammar Gaddafi’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, which was on the verge of acquiring such a bomb, voluntarily dismantled its facilities and received congratulations from Washington before being crushed by it. Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un’s Democratic People’s Republic of Korea still manages to resist the Pentagon because it possesses the bomb and boasts about it. On April 22, in a lengthy interview with Time Magazine, President Donald Trump clarified his thinking. In it, he declared that he had withdrawn the United States from the JCPoA and ordered the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani in order to deprive Iran of its ability to fuel resistance against Israel; a precondition for regional peace. He had never explained this, and this helps us understand his intention during these negotiations. [5] Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu’s "revisionist Zionists" (not to be confused with simply "Zionists"), continuing three decades of lies, have increased pressure to sabotage the ongoing contacts [6]. In Washington, their chief leader, Elliott Abrams, published a memo [7] outlining what he calls "the seven deadly sins" of previous US administrations toward Iran. This document helps us understand the position of the warmongers. According to this note, the JCPoA negotiated by the Obama administration would not have succeeded in curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and, by returning some blocked funds, would have given it the means to fight Israel. However, during the 5+1 talks in Lausanne and Geneva, all the actors (except the United States represented by Secretary of State John Kerry) had reached the conclusion that there had been no military nuclear program in Iran since 1988 and the fatwa of Imam Ruhollah Khomeini. This point, always contested by Israel, was just confirmed on March 24 by the Director of US Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, during her Senate hearing and in her annual report on threats against her country [8]. It is absolutely clear to Germany, China, France, the United Kingdom and Russia (and probably to many others) that the Israeli accusation is based on nothing; that it’s pure deception. • 1) Based on this oft-repeated lie, the "revisionist Zionists" rely on the fact that Iran, in response to the United States’ withdrawal from the JCPoA and the secret agreements it signed with John Kerry, has continued its uranium enrichment to 60%, and demand that Tehran be banned from all uranium enrichment. This claim amounts to a desire to return Iran to underdevelopment. It corresponds to the way in which certain European states have banned their colonies from modern activities in order to maintain their domination. 2) The "revisionist Zionists" continue by demanding that the negotiations not be limited to the nuclear program, but also include the issue of missiles. For years, France and the United Kingdom have falsely claimed that Tehran’s development of ballistic and hypersonic missiles violates UN sanctions. To do so, they deliberately confuse the research and production of ballistic missiles with the nuclear warheads they could carry if Iran possessed them. Russia and China have repeatedly intervened to remind the Security Council "that none of the existing international instruments and mechanisms, including the Missile Technology Control Regime or the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, explicitly or implicitly prohibits Iran from developing missile and space programs." » [9] During the Iranian bombing of Israel on October 1, 2024, it turned out that all Iranian missiles and drones missed their targets or were shot down in flight, with the exception of all hypersonic missiles, which all hit their targets. This issue, unrelated to nuclear matters, is therefore essential for Israel. • 3) The "revisionist Zionists" also demand that monitoring be carried out on Western terms, not Iranian terms. However, for the time being, Iran is subject, with its own consent, to the strictest IAEA verification procedures ever enacted. Tehran complies scrupulously, and it is difficult to see why new ones should be imposed on it, unless one wants to create a problem where none exists. • 4) The "revisionist Zionists" continue by asserting that the threat of US force must not be abandoned prematurely. Yet this is the only civilized way to proceed, as set out in the United Nations Charter (Article 2, paragraph 4) cited above. Knowing that Israel lacks the means to attack Iran alone and that Tel Aviv continues to pressure Washington to draw it into a war against Tehran, it is easy to understand what this fourth point conceals. • 5) Then, the revisionist Zionists oppose the easing of UN sanctions and unilateral coercive measures by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union on the grounds that this would encourage Iran to finance terrorism. We are not talking here about the assassinations Tehran orders abroad, but about its support for Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and the Resistance in Iraq, knowing that it no longer provides financial and military support to Ansar Allah. However, the conflicts in Palestine, Syria, and Iraq are all instances of popular resistance to Israeli military actions. They are legitimate under international law (which does not mean that all actions carried out in their name are legitimate). This demand, therefore, aims exclusively to allow Israel to violate UN resolutions even longer, not to prevent their violation by Iran. • 6 and 7) The "revisionist Zionists" conclude by demanding that Iran’s other "malign behaviors" not be ignored and that anti-terrorism sanctions not be eased to gain a nuclear advantage. However, Iran, like other states, does not engage in "malign behaviors" toward the United States. What we’re talking about here is Iranian support for the resistance to Zionism, which revisionist Zionists understandably fear will resume significant financial support. This lengthy discussion has presented the substance of the negotiations between Washington and Tehran. It should be noted that Donald Trump’s team is riddled with figures convinced by the rhetoric of the revisionist Zionists. Many congressmen, both Democrats and Republicans, do not approach the Middle East through their own experience, but through the prism of their main donor, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Merav Ceren, who has just been appointed head of the Israel-Iran portfolio at the White House National Security Council, is a dual national, an officer in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) [10]. However, the head of the US delegation to Oman, Steve Witkoff, is a real estate developer working in several countries, not only in the United States, but also in Muslim states. He has already demonstrated his independence of mind by negotiating on the Ukrainian issue and listening to the arguments of both sides. There is no reason, and certainly not his Jewish faith, to suspect him of bias. Thus, he reacted positively when the Iranians reiterated their proposal to make the Middle East a nuclear-weapon-free zone like Latin America [11] ; a proposal... that includes Israel. The fourth round of negotiations will be held on May 3. Both sides now realize that peace will depend on Donald Trump’s ability to break with the revisionist Zionists and make concrete progress on the fate of the Palestinians. Thierry Meyssan Translation Roger Lagassé https://www.voltairenet.org/article222165.html YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.
Gus Leonisky POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.
|
User login |
sabotage....
Is Donald Trump Only Trying to Derail Negotiations with Iran?
by Larry C. Johnson
At first glance, Donald Trump’s recent post on Truth Social appears to be a deliberate effort to sabotage the negotiations with Iran to ensure that Tehran ends all efforts to build a nuclear weapon. And maybe that is his intent. But, when you step back and look at the countries who import Iranian oil or petrochemicals, you will realize that Trump is going after three countries… India, China and Turkey, with China as the primary target. Iran is just an excuse. It is typical Trump bombast: he might as well have added the warning: There will be Hell to pay. He talks a big game but, when it comes to closing a deal, tends to soften. Just look at the so-called rare-earth minerals deal that Trump’s Treasury Secretary signed Wednesday night with some low-level Ukrainian official. I think that many people around the world are fed up with Trump’s antics.
Early on Thursday east-coast time, I learned that the negotiation between Iran and the US, which was scheduled to take place in Europe on Saturday, had been postponed. According to US press, reports, this action was prompted by a major disagreement between Trump advisors who wanted a deal with Iran and the Zionists in his administration who insist on carrying water for Bibi Netanyahu. But then news broke that Trump was replacing Michael Waltz, his National Security Advisor and sending Waltz to the UN. Instead of announcing a permanent replacement, Trump named Marco Rubio as his acting NSC advisor.
Maybe it is chaos, rather than a desire to cater to the wishes of the Zionists in Tel Aviv, that explains why the US requested a postponement of the Saturday meeting in Europe. Some are speculating that Trump will give the job of NSC advisor to Steve Witkoff, while others suggest Trump could give the job to Keith Kellogg or Michael Anton.
Late on Thursday, the Iranians made their statement. According to Iran’s Press TV:
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told reporters that the next round of indirect talks with the U-S was postponed for logistical and technical reasons. Araghchi said the decision was made jointly by Iran, the U-S and Oman, as mediator. He stressed that there’s no change in Iran’s determination to secure a just deal and a negotiated solution to issues raised during the negotiations. The top diplomat said a just and balanced deal must guarantee an end to sanctions imposed on Iran. The deal must also create confidence that Iran’s nuclear program will forever remain peaceful while ensuring that Iranian rights are fully respected. The talks are focused on achieving a replacement for the 20-15 nuclear deal, which was derailed through the unilateral and illegal U-S withdrawal in 20-18. Tehran says any new deal must provide guarantees that Washington would not quit the agreement again, and truly removes all anti-Iran sanctions.
Trump’s social media post — see image posted at the start of this article — will be viewed by Iran as a hostile act, but it appears that Trump’s actual target is China. As of early 2025, China remains the dominant importer of Iranian oil and petrochemical products, accounting for approximately 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. Despite international sanctions, Iran’s oil exports reached around 1.5 million barrels per day in the first eight months of 2024, with China importing the bulk of this volume.
Iran employs a ghost fleet of over 400 tankers to circumvent sanctions, utilizing tactics like ship-to-ship transfers and falsified documentation to deliver oil to Chinese ports. These shipments are often rebranded as originating from other countries and sold to independent Chinese refineries known as teapots.
In addition to oil, Iran’s petrochemical exports have grown, with China receiving over 80% of methanol and monoethylene glycol (MEG) exports, and about two-thirds of polyethylene shipments.
Other countries importing Iranian oil and petrochemicals include:
If Trump makes good on his threat to add sanctions to those countries that buy Iranian oil and petrochemicals, he is only going to exacerbate the already dismal relations with China. While Trump may hope that the economic pain from the US sanctions will compel Xi Jinping to alter Chinese trade policy and kow tow to Washington, his actions are viewed in China — not just by the leaders, but by the average Chinese man and woman in the street — as an act of war. Given China’s long history of being bullied and punished by Westerners, this is not going to sit well with the Chinese populace.
I had the chance to chat about this, and other matters pertaining to Yemen and Ukraine, with Garland Nixon today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNVyMYh-QT0
https://sonar21.com/is-donald-trump-only-trying-to-derail-negotiations-with-iran/
READ FROM TOP.
YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.
Gus Leonisky
POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.