nuclear-news

Conflict between Iran, USA, Israel unlikely, despite sabre rattling

Iran’s nuclear issue escalates, but unlikely into conflict, On Dec. 14, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a massive defense bill, which requests new sanctions on Iran, targeting foreign financial institutions that do business with the Islamic republic’s central bank. BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) –– Iran’s nuclear issue has escalated again recently with the West mulling sanctions on Iran’s Central Bank and its crude exports, but the seeming saber-rattling on the part of both sides is unlikely to evolve into an imminent conflict.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi said Tuesday that if the exports of Iran’s oil were hit by sanctioned from the West, “not a drop of oil” would pass through the Strait of Hormuz….

Despite the latest flare-up of tensions, there is little possibility that Iran and the U.S. would rush headlong into war, in view of the current circumstances.

U.S. President Barack Obama, with his re-election bid next year on his mind, would try to avoid any war that could become controversial.

Iran, on the other hand, is becoming more adept at playing a game of brinkmanship. While sticking to its tough stance on its nuclear program, Tehran has apparently been ready to compromise a bit at the last minute, leaving the door open for further negotiations.

It has been almost 10 years since Iran’s nuclear issue surfaced in 2003, but neither side has ever crossed the red lines. Iran has maintained its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and has never announced plans to develop nuclear weapons.

The West, for its part, has not imposed a complete embargo on Iran’s crude exports, to say nothing of launching strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

However, intelligence war, cyber war and economic war between the two sides have never subsided. ….. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/indepth/2011-12/29/c_131334180.htm

December 30, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Iran, politics international