On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz called for the world powers involved in Iran nuclear deal negotiations in Vienna to take a tougher stance on Tehran.
Gantz boasted of the damage US sanctions have done to Iran’s economy and said the situation leaves Tehran with little leverage. “Iran’s domestic situation presents an opportunity for the international community,” he told a Knesset foreign affairs committee. “Iran is coming into negotiations without real bargaining chips.”
The Vienna talks restarted at the end of November and are currently on pause. The US and its European allies want Iran to accept a draft agreement that was negotiated with the previous Iranian government back in June. But Tehran wants more sanctions relief than Washington is offering and submitted new proposals.
Even though the US is taking a hardline stance and has implemented more sanctions since the talks were restarted, the Biden administration is accusing Iran of not taking the process seriously. Unsurprisingly, Israel is playing up the US narrative.
“It is possible and necessary to put an end to Iran’s ‘foot-dragging’ strategy,” Gantz said. Israeli officials have been calling for the US to tighten sanctions and prepare for possible military action against Iran.
Biden officials have been coordinating very closely with Israel and have made vague statements that could be interpreted as military threats. Last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US was working with allies on “alternatives” in case the negotiations fail.
By “a harder line” he means bombing the heck out of them.
“I am certain that soon both overt and covert actions will be expanded, by a variety of means,” he said, without going into details.
He basically said as much. But in his universe that makes Iran the aggressor.
Israel’s Haaretz proudly headlines today, “Ex-Israeli Intel Chief Admits Role in Assassination of Iran’s Qassem Soleimani.” Major General Tamir Hayman confessed to the killing.
Diplomatic norms now require the Vienna negotiators cooperate in issuing arrest warrants for that murder. They cannot expect Iran to talk when they are complicit in murdering Iranians, and even bragging about it.
Diplomatic norms also require Iran to do tit-for-tat assassination. That like expulsion-for-expulsion is the normal and accepted method to discourage assassinations. The US and USSR used that norm to limit each other. It is accepted.
Which is why The Empire has replaced Law with International Rules of Order, …and “reserves the right” to commit any outrage it likes, …with a finding under a stipulated euphemism howsoever preposterous.
And it’s visible how they’ve devolved from “no comment” type of “cover” to “limited partial hang-out’, and now to unabashed gangsterism.
Nasty little warmongers. Why do the American taxpayers let so much of their money be used to support them?
Because our Congresdcritters are dependent on Israeli-affiliated money in order to get elected.
“I think I can say, and say with pride, that we have legislatures that bring higher prices than any in the world. ~ ”
Mark Twain
Put your money where your slobbering mouth is, IsraHell, and go ahead with your “military threats”….then see what happens to YOU.
Unlike the Palestinians you torment, the Iranians are actually armed.
Hatred is an ugly thing.
But only if the hate is directed at Israel.
I’m a peace activist, I have been for years but…There is a moment, I must respect a country and the rights of its people to defend themselves. Israel is out of control and it deeply concerns me because of who Israel chooses to displace its aggressions upon…
I understand your anger because I am experiencing it as well…
There is absolutely no point in having any “treaty” or even dialogue with the US.
Please point to even one treaty (more than a few hours old) that the US has abided by.
You can only have Treaties with honourable people and countries.
As there is no penalty to the US in abrogating any agreement, they do so for the smallest advantage.