Spin doctors on both sides have deflated their immediate mutual threats. But it is too soon to breathe a sigh of relief.
Peace is not breaking out in the Middle East, and not only because of intense violence in Gaza. All the reasons for tension and conflict between Iran and Israel are still there. The focus on so-called “kinetic” warfare is distracting us from the economic war that preceded the missile strikes between Iran and Israel this month, and is likely to intensify now.
Ever since 1979, the Islamic Republic has faced US sanctions of varying intensity, made sharper by American suspicions of its nuclear projects. Over the weekend, Donald Trump’s Republicans and Joe Biden’s Democrats in the House agreed on even tighter – potentially military – sanctions on Iran.
Of course, hardships are suffered by ordinary Iranians, unable to access everything from medicines patented in the US to Boeing spare parts for old planes, but the Islamic regime has kept itself afloat and its military-industrial projects funded. It would love to see sanctions dropped – but not at the price of reversing its agenda, which includes aid to Israel’s neighbourly enemies, Hamas and Hezbollah.
Denne historien er fra April 22, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Denne historien er fra April 22, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Carse justifies England faith as the archetypal bold pick
If you won a boxing match after your opponent continually punched themselves in the face, how much credit can you take?
Tenacious Diallo the key to Amorim pressing machine
Old Trafford has not seen anything like this before.
Gold King Cole packs the Bridge with merry old souls
In the 83rd minute, the ball rolled to the feet of Cole Palmer in a bubble of space outside Aston Villa's box, and the crowd snapped to attention.
Vibrant Anfield marks the changing of the Guardiola
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Sectarian clashes claim at least 130 lives in Pakistan
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How Syria's forgotten war is back on the world's agenda
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Assad regime scrambles to halt Syrian rebels’ advance
Civilians reportedly killed by Russian and Syrian airstrikes
Mother of poisoning victim says she knew she would die
Lawyer Simone White succumbed to the effects of methanol while backpacking in Laos with two of her childhood friends
