As the world community has come
down hard on Donald Trump’s announcement of likely pulling out from the Iranian
nuclear deal, Islamabad, too, has weighed the negative impact of the US
President’s controversial move on Pakistan as well as its bilateral relations
with Iran, saying the US decision has implications for Pakistan as renewed
American sanctions can negatively affect its bilateral engagements with Iran.
“Pakistan believes that international treaties and agreements concluded through
painstaking negotiations are sacrosanct”, and therefore must be respected.
Foreign Office issued alate eveningstatement on May 9, which suggested that
Pakistan was upset with the Trump administration’s unilateral move.Obviously it
would indirectly result in souring of ties between Pakistan and Iran keeping in
view Pakistan’s apparent move of what Tehran believe joining the Saudi camp,
especially becoming the part of Saudi-led Muslim countries’ joint coalition
force that is meant to counter terrorism in the Middle East region. Already the
relations between Pakistan and Iran have seen fluctuations during the recent
past, especially in context with reportedly raising of Kulbushan issue with the
visiting Iranian President by no other than then army chief, Gen Raheel Sharif.
However,with his successor Gen Qamar JavedBajwa’s ensuing Tehran visit, an
upward trend was seen in recent months with both neighbours willing to explore
options to deepen their trade and commercial ties.
“Arbitrarily rescinding such agreements will undermine confidence in the value
of dialogue and diplomacy in the conduct of international relations and the
peaceful resolution of disputes.” The statement further read Pakistan believes
that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) represents a very good
example of a negotiated settlement of complex issues, through dialogue and
diplomacy.“We had welcomed the JCPOA when it was concluded and hope that all
parties will find a way for its continuation, especially when the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly verified Iran’s compliance.”
Islamabad expressed its hope that the deal would not be scrapped altogether.“We
have noted the willingness of the parties to the Agreement to work together on
upholding their respective commitments as stipulated in the JCPOA, despite US
decision to withdraw from it,” the statement further said.Pakistan was hoping
that lifting the sanctions on Iran would help it complete the crucial gas
pipeline project. But with renewed tensions between Tehran and Washington, the
multibillion dollar project will certainly face further delay.
Strong reaction against President Trump’s May 9 announcement came from not only
inside America but from across the globe. Former US president Barrack Obama was
amongst the first to assail Donald Trump, saying “flouting of agreements risks
eroding American credibility.” New York Times in its front-page ‘Opinion’ piece
by Susan E. Rice said President Trump’s reckless decision to withdraw the United
States from the Iran nuclear deal will not force Iran back to the negotiating
table, nor will it address serious concerns about Iran’s behavior in the Middle
East. But it will leave Iran’s nuclear program unconstrained, and an inconstant
America isolated from its allies and far less safe. “The Iran deal has worked as
intended.”
France’s Foreign Minister said now “the risks of confrontation are real and
Europe would act to avoid the explosion (of conflict) that risks happening if…
no measures are taken.” Iran’s reaction was prompt and furious as the
parliamentarians burnt a US flag and chanted “Death to America” inside the
Iranian Parliament. China said it will maintain normal economic and trade
exchanges with Iran despite Trump’s decision. “Beijing will remain in dialogue
with all parties and continue to devote itself to safeguard and implement the
deal.” Britain Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson urged Washington to avoid taking
action that would hinder other parties from continuing to make the agreement
work.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United States
intelligence community, the United Nations Security Council and the president’s
top advisers, Iran has fully complied with its obligations. “As required, Iran
relinquished 97 percent of its enriched uranium stockpile, dismantled two-thirds
of its centrifuges and its entire plutonium facility, abided by the most
intrusive international inspection and monitoring regime in history, and
forswore ever producing a nuclear weapon.” Now, says Susan, President Trump has
ceded the moral high ground and freed Iran from all those constraints. Iran will
be able to resume its nuclear activities without being blamed for violating the
agreement. “This agreement was never about trust. It is about stringent
verification – in perpetuity. The deal effectively cut off all potential
pathways for Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.”
Guardian’s Michael H Fuchs said, “Trump just manufactured a national security
crisis for no reason.” Atlantic’s David Frum wrote, “Trump has never valued
allies or partners. The only relationship he understands is one of power: he
commands, others obey. President Trump has just pushed the plunger on a sequence
of crises.” He said, “hopes that Trump would be contained by his aides and
advisers have long since been exposed as unrealistic. Trump is being Trump, the
chaos president drawing the world into chaos after him.”
Syed Mohammad Marandi, a professor of English Literature and Orientalism at the
University of Tehran, in his article “Why ‘Death to America?”, said, US
president Donald Trump has a problem with ‘Death to America’ slogans. Is the
widespread desire of ordinary Iranians to end US arrogance, duplicity and
hegemony that difficult for Donald to grasp? “If western countries shut their
doors, there are other doors opening to Iran and the ultimate biggest loser in
this process will be the US, a weak and submissive Europe, and their erratic
regional client regimes. The choice is theirs to make.”
Salman Shoaib, a Pakistani writer who has graduated from Brown and Cambridge
universities, is managing director at a fund management company based in
Singapore, said in his article “Trump has opened the door to war” published in
the Express Tribune on May 9, said it is true that Trump never liked the Iran
deal, and also simply wishes to undo all aspects of President Obama’s legacy.
But we should also pay attention to the story in Wag the Dog, a film where the
US president fakes a war to distract from a sex scandal. “Trump understands that
with a Mueller investigation in full swing, and an unfolding sex scandal,
international conflict could help change the topic and the country around him.
The US president is intentionally keeping the door open to another war in the
Middle East.”
Pakistan Today, in its editorial, said Trump has threatened to clamp sanctions
on any country that does not abide by the renewed US sanctions. “This is easier
said than done. So far all the remaining five countries have expressed
solidarity with the deal. A number of other countries including Japan need oil
from the region and trade with Iran and would resent the cancellation of the
Iran nuclear deal. Pakistan too is keen to import gas from the neighbouring
country and expand bilateral trade. Trump’s threat of sanctions will further
push Pakistan towards China and Russia.”