US-Iran tensions

Tensions between Iran and the US are passing through a roller-coaster phase. Tension rises when the only superpower acts as a bully and then subsides when good sense prevails with the big brother. On June 21, an unmanned US surveillance drone was shot down. An Iranian missile destroyed the US drone. Tehran said it was shot down over its territory and Washington claimed it occurred in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significantly large quantity of oil from the Middle East are carried to other parts of the world.

The drone incident pushed tensions between the two old foes to an alarmingly dangerous level. The latest escalation in tensions came after the recent explosions on six oil tankers in the region. The US claims either Iran or its allies carried out this. Iran had denied any involvement. Trump said on June 22 that he aborted “a retaliatory military strike for Iran’s downing an unmanned drone.” The high pitch of tensions sent ripples through the international oil market. Oil futures rose more than one per cent to above $65 a barrel over worries about possible disruptions to crude exports from the Gulf.

Trump said he wants to hold talks with Tehran, claiming that the economic sanctions imposed on Iran were having an effect. It is difficult to say whether he is sincere or dissembling given his track record in international affairs. A senior Trump administration official said, “There was complete unanimity among the president’s advisers and the Department of Defense leadership on appropriate response to Iran’s activities. The president made the final decision.”

Trump said he was against any war with Iran and wanted to talk about various issues. Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, has ruled out any talks with Washington while Iran is under economic sanctions. International diplomatic efforts are afoot to avoid war in the Middle East. Man should abolish war, or war will abolish man.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2019.

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