his veto, that doesn’t mean that the other signatories to the deal will go along with the rejection. China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom, along with other European Union countries, can accept the terms and remove sanctions on Iran. This would leave the United States isolated and alone (with its Middle East ally, Israel), on a war footing against Iran. “The chance of renegotiating it is very close to zero. As the situation evolves, there’s a very real chance of conflict,” Gary Sick said.
Another supporter of the deal is an American activist who was a prisoner in Iran. Sarah Shourd was held for more than 400 days in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison, much of that time in solitary confinement. She, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal were the three American hikers who were arrested by Iranian border guards while hiking in Iraqi Kurdistan back in 2009. Much of the criticism of the current deal centres on its failure to secure the release of four other Americans, three of whom are known to be imprisoned in Iran, among them Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian. The fourth, Robert Levinson, is believed to be alive, but his whereabouts are unknown.
“Not only does it weaken the hard-liner position in Iran and ease tension between our two countries, it could lead to cooperation to combat Isis,” Shourd said of the deal on ‘Democracy Now!’. “I also think that it is good for the Americans that are currently detained there. I think it actually gives the Iranian government less incentive to use hostage taking as a tactic.”
When a deal was proposed in 2010, during her imprisonment, Shourd recalled: “I was dancing and laughing in my cell, because I had no doubt in my mind that my release and Shane and Josh’s release would be carefully calibrated with the temperature of U.S.-Iranian relations. So, if the temperature is good, it looks better for the hostages.”
When sealing a nuclear-arms deal with the Soviet Union in 1987, President Reagan repeatedly said, “Trust, but verify,” playing on a Russian proverb. Reagan clearly did not trust the Soviets, so he insisted on a thorough verification process. This deal with Iran has exactly that. Give diplomacy a chance.
This article has been excerpted from: ‘The Iran nuclear deal: give diplomacy a chance’.
Courtesy: Commondreams.org