Exclusive | Trump’s actions against Iran pose serious threat to world security: US analyst

New York, IRNA – An American-Canadian political analyst says that US President Donald Trump’s actions against Iran in both of his terms are a serious threat not only to the security of the Middle East, but of the entire world.

Robert Fantina made the remarks in an exclusive interview with IRNA.

The full text of the interview, published on Monday, is as follows:

Analysts argue that President Donald Trump’s decision to assassinate Iranian General Qassem Soleimani during his first term and his guidance and involvement in Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities during his second term posed a serious threat to regional stability, security, and the international credibility of the United States. From your perspective, what are the consequences of these actions against Iran?

Trump’s actions against Iran in both of his terms are a serious threat not only to the security of the Middle East, but of the entire world.

Assassinating a military general is a violation of international law, for which no accountability was required. This in itself weakens international law. Additionally, every world leader on the planet knows that Trump and the US have no regard for international law, so Trump’s threats to annex Canada and Greenland must be taken seriously.

This puts NATO in a very awkward position. And any agreements made with the US are only as good as the whims of the current president, as indicated by Trump’s violation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018.

Iran is a sovereign nation with a large population; despite US actions, it is a developed nation with a powerful military. The US bombed it in June following Israeli aggression against Iran, and Iran’s retaliation, which would have wiped Israel from the map had the US not intervened, must be noted by the US. Iran and its government should not be trifled with, and it is hoped that someone in Trump’s cabinet understands that before it is too late.

From your point of view, what was General Qassem Soleimani’s role in shaping regional security and stability, and how did Trump’s decision to assassinate him impact the power dynamics in the Middle East?

General Soleimani was a powerful and well-respected military leader, and his assassination by the US only increased hostility throughout the Middle East towards the United States. He had worked with the leaders of neighboring countries to oppose terrorist activities and had excellent relations with leaders throughout the Middle East.

Donald Trump seemed to believe that the death of General Soleimani would bring about the failure of Iran’s military system. As is so often the case, he completely misread the situation. Although a great leader, General Soleimani was not the only Iranian military leader with the knowledge and wisdom to navigate the dangerous times that Iran and the rest of the Middle East face. Like Trump’s grossly mistaken belief that, after the abrogation of the JCPOA, the Iranian government would quickly seek a new agreement with the US, Trump seemed to believe the IRGC and the Quds Force would quickly fall apart without General Soleimani’s guidance. This has not happened, and the effectiveness of Iran’s military was demonstrated in June when it responded to Israeli bombs. Trump and his international cohorts need to understand that, in dealing with Iran, they are facing a powerful nation with a large population that is strongly supportive of the government.