By Hossein Ziaee*
While EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell admits that Iran’s rights within the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) have been violated and stresses the necessity of granting Tehran its rights, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has made new demands from the Islamic Republic of Iran, calling for the conclusion of a "nuclear agreement plus”.
In an interview with Der Spiegel published on December 4, Maas, making no mention of Europe’s ineffectiveness in preserving the JCPOA and Iran’s rights under the deal, adopted an unconsidered stance and called for the signing of an extended JCPOA that would incorporate Tehran’s defensive ballistic missile program as well.
Apparently, the German foreign minister has forgotten that US President Donald Trump is the last world leader whose “maximum pressure” policies against Tehran, due to his unrealistic approaches and lack of knowledge about the realities of Iran’s establishment and politics, have ended in failure.
Meanwhile, US president-elect Joe Biden said any policy toward Iran and, in particular, the JCPOA will be adopted in coordination and consultation with Europe.
Although Washington’s return to the deal it withdrew in May 2018 and renewed efforts to revive and promote multilateralism will, once again, open up a bright horizon in front of the international community, adoption of realistic and impartial approaches by the US and Europe toward Iran are still the main factor that guarantee the successful preservation and implementation of the JCPOA.
This comes as Germany, as Europe’s main political and economic leader, can play a significant role in efforts to this end. In fact, now that under Chancellor Angela Merkel’s realistic leadership, Germany has become one of the most effective world leaders, it is, more than ever, capable of directing realistically the international community toward peace, cooperation and development.
Nevertheless, reviving a multilateralism system damaged by Trump’s strategic errors and treasons, particularly with regard to the JCPOA, is a global necessity.
With only a year to the end of her term in office, Merkel can, along with her other European and American partners, play an important role in reviving the JCPOA through employing realistic and fair approaches.
Germany and, in general, Europe are required to stop their diplomatic arrogance, refrain from causing a new round of tensions over the JCPOA and give an appropriate response to Iran’s legitimate expectations.
As matter of fact, the post-Trump world will be much different from the one that has been witness to him wielding power. The revival and promotion of multilateralism within the international community will become possible solely through recognizing all members’ rights.
* Hossein Ziaee is a freelance Iranian columnist.
No comments:
Post a Comment