Peace derailed

The promise of detente in the Middle East has died with the Iran-Israel conflict entering a new and deadly phase. Israel’s attacks came at a time when Iran was in negotiations with the US on the future of Iran’s nuclear programme. Neither the international atomic energy agency (IAEA) nor the US director of national intelligence had concluded that Iran was developing atomic bombs. US President Donald Trump had even claimed that the nuclear deal with Iran was imminent. Now, the intensified conflict will hit the world economy and it remains to be seen if the coercive strategy being employed by the US and Israel will work. It is quite unfortunate that there are no credible agencies to intervene and negotiate peace. The UN is basically toothless without US backing.

Shafi Ahmed Khowaja

Hyderabad