Trump finally delivered his much anticipated speech on Iran policy and the Iran Nuclear Deal and as expected, the speech was long on rhetoric and short on actual steps. He correctly pointed out everything that is wrong with the IR Regime, but did not provide any details on how he wants to deal with it. In a nutshell, it was another feel-good “Axis of Evil” speech which when everything is said and done, put the Regime in a much stronger position in Iraq and the Region a few years later.
Trump pulled himself out of the certification process that the US Congress had imposed on the US Presidents to basically state that the US-imposed sanctions can remain suspended if the IR Regime is living up to its nuclear obligations, which they have done so far. He punted the certification responsibility back to the Congress and said, “You guys deal with this!” And it does not appear to be enough support in the US Senate to tear up the Deal, or any enthusiasm on the part of the Europeans or the IR Regime to renegotiate the Deal. So we will be left with the US isolated from the rest of the world while the Regime continues on doing business with the Europeans and the Asians, with one caveat that no country will risk putting serious money into the Iranian oil infrastructure.
He also called Sepah a supporter of terrorist organizations, and not a terrorist organization itself which should bring US sanctions against Sepah, but not much more. However, the effectiveness of a sanction policy is in its rigorous enforcement and not just imposing them. Obama and his Treasury Department were successful in enforcing sanctions because they had an aggressive and comprehensive enforcement mechanism. Trump in contrast, is still struggling with filling high level department roles and at each step of the way, he contradicts his cabinet members. So we have to wait and see on this one, especially considering his poor relationship with the US allies, China and Russia which makes enforcement extremely difficult.
Given Trump’s performance so far, a few years after this “Axis of Evil” speech, the IR Regime, with the help from the Russians, will be in a much better position in Syria, Iraq and some other parts of the Region.
He just emboldened IRI's hardliners, better than any Democrat president...
Well said, Faramarz!
Except that it was not Trump's speech, but the GOP party-line.
For once, Trump read the whole thing word-for-word, like a good semi-literate boy. He only once took his eyes off the teleprompter, and said "internet" rather than "intercontinental" ballestic messile threat.
At a practical level, this GOP position paper is bad for everyone ... for Iranian people who will have to deal with an emboldened and enraged IRI ... for the United States who has lost credibility in keeping its words ... for the world as we get another step closer to future nuclear confrontations.
و همینطور رژیم ترامپ کیری و خوب بهم میان
Thanks to Mr. Edward Snowden, my rights to privacy has been partially restored and this e-mail might not be illegally collected or read by our Government until the politicians try to find a way to take it away again.
Reject occupation, If the bar code starts with 7 29 put it back on the shelf
Buy American, say NO to Chinese madeTrump
“The time is always right to do what is right” – Martin Luther King
Welcome back dear Shazde.
Darius Konivar and his 5 other nicknames claim that everyone on this site with half a brain is me; but it is good to be back and pour some Shiite down his and other Savaki throats.
Yep, there appears to be a little turbulence at the Trump Tower where the Neo-Monarchists have broken away from Reza Pahlavi, because “Palabi is not Chalabi” and are looking for a new king! I think Trump’s son-in-law, Agha-zadeh Mojtaba Kushner makes a good candidate since Madame President-for-life Rajavi is currently exiled in Albania!