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.
This story is from the April 22, 2024 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the April 22, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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