The USA, unable to deal with the Iranian crusade of nuclear activities, this time announced that it cannot resist Israel’s attacks on Iran. The fact that America who introduced itself to the world as the “Super Power” announced that it cannot prevent Israel, shows either it is losing power day by day or it wants to give the message that Israel can do whatever it wants against Iran. The negative approaches of the two out of the five permanent members (The USA, England, France, China, and Russia) of the United Nations Security Council for the new sanctions for Iran put the USA on the spot. Especially the fact that China cannot be convinced for the new sanctions for Tehran illustrates that it was totally turned into an America-China struggle. As a matter of fact considering the Iranian policy of America, it cannot be clearly understood what the USA really wants to do. Despite all pressures and attempts, Iran still continues its nuclear activities. Even if somehow it wants to attack Iran, it is observed that it cannot take the chance of going through the same tragedy of Iraq and Afghanistan again. The Iran issue for the USA has turned into a situation of, so to say, “Stop Iran; it makes me dizzy”.
Previously threatening Iran by saying “all options are on the table” the USA, now drives Israel forward. According to Haaretz daily newspaper of Israel, during his visit to Beijing a month ago the President of the USA Barack Obama, clearly gave the message to the President of the People’s Republic of China Hu Jintao that if Tehran did not agree with the western proposals regarding the nuclear program, the USA could not prevent Israel from attacking Iran. According to the news based on anonymous top level officials of Israel, the USA also informed Tel Aviv on the negotiations with Beijing. (Click-1)
Why does not China agree?
The presidential election of the United Nations Security Council will be held next month in China. While the West has already started working on new sanctions, China is suspected to postpone the negotiations on Iranian nuclear problem in the Council till the end of the presidency that will take one month.
The reasons of Beijing’s unwillingness for the new sanctions for Iran can be listed as such:
- If Iran loses power, the USA can struggle with China more.
- Having many commercial ties with Iran, China has fulfilled its energy need from the oil of Iran for a long time. Saudi Arabia claims that Beijing replied negatively to Saudi Arabia when it offered China to sell the same amount of oil that China buy from Iran cheaper on condition that China approves new sanctions. In this case, it does not seem likely that neither Iran nor China will give up.
- Considering the nuclear activities of Iran from the perspective of China, these activities are not perceived as a threat for China. Additionally, the nuclear activities of Iran are thought to be serving Beijing’s and Moscow’s interests. Because such attitude of Iran causes the USA to turn to China and negotiate with Beijing rather than competition with it. Therefore, it is very normal that China supports Iran.
As a matter of fact considering the attitudes of the USA on Iranian issue, it is necessary that Obama administration should give up its oppressive attitude of Iran even for a while in order not to lead to more instability in the Middle East. And there are two reasons for this: first of all the American administration’s pressure on Iran for nuclear activities results with backlash in the region and even among its allies. Secondly, the fact that the USA have not taken concrete steps (like sanctions or attacks) for the problems with Iran up to now, causes Ahmadinejad administration to gain sympathy and prestige both in the region and in the international arena. To sum up, due to the contradictory attitudes of the USA on Iran issue it can be said that the USA is getting lonelier day by day.
Ali Semin, Assistant