On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and called on the world powers involved in the Vienna talks to revive the Iran nuclear deal to take a strong stance against the Islamic Republic.
“Against the backdrop of the nuclear talks in Vienna, the prime minister stressed the importance of a strong and determined stance against Iran’s progress in the nuclear project,” Bennett’s office said in a statement.
Russia is one of the participants of the Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, and has been attending the Vienna talks. Israel’s opposition to the talks is no secret, and Bennett has publicly called on the US to “immediately” halt the negotiations and increase the pressure on Iran.
The US and Iran are at odds over verifications and guarantees for sanctions relief and what steps to take in order to revive the JCPOA. Russia’s envoy in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, said on Twitter that the JCPOA participants met with US representatives on Thursday and discussed the “implementation of a future deal.”
“We need to agree on who will be doing what and when on the way towards full restoration of the nuclear deal. Not an easy task,” Ulyanov wrote.
Overall, Russia has spoken much more positively of the Vienna talks since they restarted in Vienna than the US and its European allies. Although they have admitted that some progress has been made, US and European officials are constantly warning that time is running out to revive the deal. The Western powers also portray Iran as the difficult party even though the US violated the deal in the first place and scuttled earlier negotiations.
LOL Once again quoting Percival Rose: “That ain’t gonna happen.”
In fact, once it’s clear that the US is not going to stop NATO expansion, I expect Putin to declare that Iran is an official “ally” – as he has indirectly in the past – and sell Iran S-400 air defense systems. He might also negotiate the right to use Iranian airfields for Russia warplanes, as was done temporarily in the past during Russia’s response to the Syria crisis. He could also simply turn on the S-400s in Syria and declare a no-fly zone in Syria for both Israel and the US.
Russia already announced that Russian bombers now in Syria can locate and hit any target in the entire Mediterranean. That was obviously a warning to the US and NATO fleets there. It could easily be applied to Israel should relations worsen.
I fear that this is exactly what the US/NATO MIC actually wants: a clear and distinct new restart of the “great game”. More and more military spending— a new cold war.
You’re undoubtedly correct. We’re heading directly for at least one and possibly three major wars in the next 5 or 10 years, if not sooner – Iran, Russia, and China. Because the MIC hasn’t learned – and won’t learn – that the “game” has changed, and the opposing players aren’t playing by US rules any more.
Once again Israel wants other nations to face what they never have to (accountability), even if Israel’s accusations are false!
It is for some reason not clear what is actually happening. Perhaps we are used to have the reality defined by mainstream media, and are trapped by its definitions.
Let us take the example of alliances. Russia and Iran are for all practical purposes allies, One has to look at reality through events and their implications, not theory. Shanghai Cooperation Irganization is a powerful fulcrum that binds members into a variety of privileges and responsibilities. And their diversified mambership structure is an indication not so much of adherence to rules, those are common, but of specific role and decision-making level.
The structure allows the greatest flexibility in building relationships with non-members and that
appears contradictory in our definition of alliances.
SCO mechanisms prevent US block-based alliance from targeting individual SCO members. India is good example. It has all forms of agreements with US on Indo-Pacific. One would be tempted to say that India, as one of the SCO permanent members (highest voting level) is an example of the Organization irrelevance.
But look closer. India in reality will not agree to any action that would cause harm to any SCO member. Not tthat US did not try pulling India into anti-China posture, but not succeeding. US is frustrated, but unwilling to let go of even the appearance of good relations with India. Periodically, US goes on anti-Modi rant, some “non-governmental” groups go on blaming Modi for Hindu nationalism, criticizing citizenship laws, even trying to make them look anti-Moslem. Anything and everything to push India into following our line.
But India has an important mission — building its own national cohesion out of the land of dozens of nationalities, religions and languages. And being vulnerable to secessionism, it is merely insuring that US and UK do not take a
determined action against its territorial integrity.
Need I say that the border standoff with China on icy Himslayan ridges is a well choreographed act. Why do the troops there have an order not to use firearms? Last time they ran into each other patrols, they fought with fists, sticks and snowballs. This is to demonstrate India’s snd China’s firmness — good domestically to ward off opposition, and internationally to keep US believing the two Asian giants are at loggerheads.
Is there a real India-Pakistan animosity? There is none, as both are permanent SCO members. The forum alows for strategizing and dealing with a plethora of foreign funded militancy around Kashmir. The trade betrays the reality. India and China frade is booming.
I am sure that it is no mystery to State Department that SCO is just fullfiing its basic principle — trade and criendly relations with everyone, but NOT for the purposes of harming others.
From NATO perspective — it is playing games. Because block-based allianced demand discipline. Block discipline in Western alliances are a serious problem. It forces cutting of relationship in trade, culture and infrastructure with the designated enemy. Such crude alproach to the world’s diverse humanity is the worst of the worst residual colonisl mentality.
There are many, many examples of SCO coordination, where because of various role countries play in any circumstances — hard to see coordinated action. Such is the case with Afghanistan. Coorinated to the last detail, with every country in Afghani neighborhood had a role.
The best example however is Turkey. Most people do not even know that Turkey is an SCO member. Its NATO membership makes it exquisitely complex case. And you will never get it from our media, but the level of coordination between Russia, China Iran and Turkey has been breathtaking. All the while acting within a sphere of strategic anbuguity. But RESULTS are stunning. Syria, Azerbaijan, Libya, Iraq,Qatar, Somalia, Ethiopia, Afghanistan.
Recent attacks on Turkish currency causing inflation are examples of Western block determination to punish Turkey. So far, it did not work. Biden has tbe most transparent game of all US presidents. He uses harshest possible measures against the perceived enemy — but then comes up with carrots to make it all look friendly and benevolent. Turkey has suddenly become a target of our munificence, all roses and chocolate. Turkey will do what SCO does best — take extended hand, grand gestures of forgiveness, Sure, ALL will be accepted, except any suggestions of harming others. Since US has Russia on its mind — it will become clear QUICKLY that besides rhetorical agrerments in principle, no concrete acts of anymosity towards Russiia will be forthcoming.
Naturally, our medis will spin it as always. But Turkey knows that without support from Russia, Iran and China, it has no future, except as Western colony. It has tried that — for about half the century. Turkey and Russia are in fact the only SCO members with military roles. Turkey’s role has been expanding by leaps and bounds, which complements Russian role in every respect.
Let us look at how Armenian-Azerbaijani frozen conflict has been resolved, Both US and France were caught flat footed. It is joint Turkish-Russian peacemkerling center that has opened iin Azerbaijan. It is Rusdian troops that are guarding Nagorno-Karabakh Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan, and coordinating construction of a direct road corridor to Armenia, it is the coordinated Russian -Turkish political effort that will result in normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations. Years of playing up on historic hurts by the West did not help Armenia. Only by dealing directly with Turkey can Armenia start getting answers to its tragedy in the waning years of WWI. Keep in mind that Armenia and Azerbaijan are members of SCO, and for as long as they adhere to SCO rules, they are supported.
“Perhaps we are used to have the reality defined by mainstream media, and are trapped by its definitions.”
Excellent point. I’m glad I don ‘t spend much time consuming mainstream media. Unfortunately most of the US does, despite record low trust in it.
Somebody should tell Bennett about his illegal settlement problems.
Any foreign “settlement” unauthorized collectively by the Palestinian people, anywhere in all of Palestine, is illegal by international law. Including the presence of Zionist settlers brought by the British occupiers since 1917.
Tells you all you need to know about “international law”.
Force and violence is the only real “law”.
Correct. This is why we should wish and work for for a real Palestinian resistance in the near future and more power to Russia and China — breaking the monopoly on force and violence.
It is just as likely that Russia will extend protection to Iran, maybe even station road mobile Russian nuclear missiles there. Just as the US does all around Russia.
Vladimir told Bennet …”Gey baren zikh”??