In the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed in 2015, Iran was described as a “nuclear threshold state” that could be cleared to continue its nuclear program after remaining under observation for some years. Devising the preliminary framework to pursue this objective, various world powers – the US, the UK, Russia, France, China, Germany and the European Union – had negotiated with Iran for two years to achieve this breakthrough.
After defining a roadmap between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran’s nuclear program seemed to be in safe hands. Not satisfied with the mechanism, however, the US withdrew from the JCPOA in May last year as it wished to “make a new and lasting deal,” in the words of President Donald Trump. Notwithstanding IAEA assertions that Iran was complying and implementing its nuclear-related commitments, the US wanted to negotiate a new deal and announced sanctions against Iran.
Plausibly, restricting the formation of further nuclear states may be the real reason the US wanted a new deal. Bringing about the permanent denuclearization of Iran may be the actual objective, but the US was left alone in this matter as all the other signatories of the JCPOA stayed with the deal. In fact, most of the EU countries tried to resolve the crisis and even sidestepped some of the ensuing sanctions on Iran. Meanwhile, where Russia and China were concerned, the sanctions made no difference and trade with Iran continued as usual.
Since December, Iran has gone ahead with ballistic-missile tests to enhance its defense capability instead of pursuing talks with Washington. Preparing a defensive strategy instead, Tehran focused on boosting its missile capability to meet all eventualities. Discussing Iran’s fears, Brigadier-General Hossein General Salami of the Revolutionary Guard said, “If today the Europeans or others try to plot and pursue Iran’s missile disarmament, then we will be forced to resort to a strategic leap.”
After launching a missile into space last month, Iran got a reminder from the US that it was a violation of the United Nations Security Council resolution, which is the crux of the JCPOA nuclear deal. Days later, Iran went ahead with missile tests at the occasion of anniversary celebrations of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Reaching full-range manufacturing capability, Iran has added confidence now and it has resolved any initial issues it had with cruise-missile engines.
At the testing of the latest Hoveizeh cruise missile, Defense Minister Amir Hatami symbolically likened it to the “long arm of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” The missile even hit its target. Part of the Soumar group of missiles initially unveiled in 2015,
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