Trump threatens Iran. Card Sako: the Middle East cannot withstand another war
The US president again attacks Tehran. The Iranian leadership tries to tone down the situation, stressing that it does not want a war. Riyadh joins the confrontation, accusing the Islamic Republic of a recent series of incidents. Chaldean patriarch: "Great fear" among the people. The danger is militias and fundamentalist groups that want to open conflict.
Baghdad (AsiaNews) - The Middle Eastern region is unable to "withstand" another war, which would represent "a disaster for everyone," underlines by the Chaldean primate, Card Louis Raphael Sako, receiving the US Ambassador in Baghdad Joey Hood.
Meanwhile, a rocket [of unknown origin] fell yesterday in the "Green Zone" of the Iraqi capital, not far from the US diplomatic representation as President Donald Trump renewed his threats against Tehran.
At this time of great tension, Patriarch Sako stressed both sides must urgently focus their efforts on “restoring calm” and promoting "civil dialogue". The Cardinal added everything possible must be done, to "avoid any kind of military solution". The US Chargé d’ Affaires of the Embassy emphasized the importance of what H.B. suggested, especially that the United States is aware of the impact of “fueling” this conflict.
Interviewed by AsiaNews, Card Sako confirms "the great fear among the people" for a possible new confrontation. "Personally - he adds - I don't believe there will be a war, because it would be a disaster for everyone: for Iran, for neighboring countries like Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and with regional implications, Saudi Arabia. Everyone would be involved ".
The Cardinal added that "the danger is that the fundamentalist groups and armed militias that want to provoke Americans and Iranians, dragging them to war” there must be "very cautious and in dialogue. We must think - he concludes - of the 80 million Iranian citizens ".
A possible conflict between the Islamic Republic and the Americans is one of the major dominating the region, as well as an element of great fear among international diplomacies.
US President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),wanted by his predecessor Barack Obama. The JCPOA deal was signed in 2015, but the United States pulled out in May 2018 despite the opposition of the international community.
Washington followed the withdrawal by imposing the toughest sanctions in history against Iran. The decision has negatively impacted the Iranian economy as noted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Oil exports have dropped considerably, which was the goal of the second round of sanctions that came into effect on 4 November last year.
In response, Iran in recent weeks has decided to "relaunch" its nuclear power program by withdrawing from some "minor and general" commitments envisaged by the atomic agreement. The announcement of Tehran was followed by the dispatch of warships and bombers to Gulf waters by the United States and unclear naval incidents.
Yesterday, US President Trump sent a harsh message to the Tehran leadership, stating that the Islamic Republic will be destroyed in the event of a war between the two countries. "If Iran wants to fight - the White House tenant wrote in a tweet - it will be the official end for Iran. Never try to threaten the United States again! ". A warlike rhetoric in which he ensures that the US will never allow Iran to "develop nuclear weapons".
While Trump fuels conflict rhetoric, Tehran is trying to ease the tension. "There will be no war - said Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to the Irna agency - given that we do not want war and no one can harbor the illusion of facing Iran in the region".
The head of Tehran's diplomacy was echoed by the Pasdaran leader, General Hossein Salami, according to whom the ayatollahs "are not looking for a conflict", while the United States "is afraid of war and will not look for it".
Riyadh is also part of the distance battle between Washington and Tehran, which accuses Iran of a series of recent incidents in the region. Over the weekend, Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has been discussing political, diplomatic and military developments in the region with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the phone. Confirming the interview, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that "we want peace and stability in the region, but we will not remain helpless in the face of continuous Iranian attacks".
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28/05/2019 11:45
