Is U.S. Mideast policy changing?
By Kamila Aliyeva
Although U.S. President Donald Trump refuses Washington policy on Israel - Palestinian conflict envisaging the establishment of "two states for two nations", UN Secretary General assures there is no plan 'B' in the solution this bloody conflict in the Middle East.
Trump, which is considered to be a game changer in the world politics, tends to re-design key directions of U.S. president's policy in Middle East region by refusing the years-long U.S. position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict -- the move that lacks impressive support in larger political circles.
By doing that Trump risks displeasing both sides of the conflict. While Palestinians see it as an unwillingness to work for an independent Palestinian state, many Israelis worry that a one-state solution means that a Jewish state may be replaced by the one in which Arabs outnumbered Jews.
In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on February 15, Trump manifested attempts to "reset" button on the U.S.-Israel relations.
After eight years of friction under former U.S. president Barack Obama, Trump’s retreat from the long-lasting policy of Washington that was supported by both Republicans and Democrats caused great concerns among Palestinians who urged the new administration not to abandon the task of creating an independent Palestinian state.
The new political course signaled a warmer chapter in U.S.-Israel relations, whilst Trump who seemed to be supportive of West Bank settlements at times during his presidential campaign, called on Israel to hold back on settlements for a little bit.
The U.S. president vowed to work toward a peace deal between Israel and Palestinians but said it would require compromise on both sides, leaving it up to the parties themselves ultimately to decide on the terms of any agreement.
While many are sure this change in the policy to offer quite big challenges for the White House in its further implications, others forecast the move at least to freeze the intention to find a solution to long-lasting uneasy conflict in the Middle East.
Many try to relate the new administration's change in its position with the intention to drag back the recently achieved Vienna agreement on the Iranian nuclear program.
The U.S. President repeatedly called the international community's agreement on nuclear program with Iran that entered into force in 2015 the worst negotiated deal ever and promised Netanyahu that Iran would never be permitted to build a nuclear weapon.
The U.S. President did not hide his intention to develop new measures against Iran to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
"My administration has already introduced new sanctions against Iran, and I will do even more to prevent Iran's development of nuclear weapons," Trump said at a press conference after talks with the Israeli Prime Minister.
The U.S. makes calls on Iran to stop provocative actions that undermine regional security.
"Further development of the Iranian missile program and support for terrorism are provocative and undermine the security, prosperity, and stability in the region," said an official of the U.S. State Department in an interview with Trend news agency.
The U.S. seems to be decisive on its ground over the Iran issue and the new administration is negotiating with Arab allies, which have also expressed their concerns over Iran’s growing influence in the region, on forming a military alliance directed against Iran.
The alliance may include such countries as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Jordan, according to the five officials from Arab countries. Other Arab countries may also join the alliance.
The alliance will have a component of the NATO system, implying mutual defense, which means that the attack against one of the members of the union will be perceived as an attack against the alliance as a whole.
Details of the operating system of the alliance are in development, sources said.
The negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue began in 2004, as Western nations were accusing Tehran of developing a "secret military nuclear program. Since 2006, negotiations with Iran were led by the "six" of international mediators (the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany).
The Iran nuclear deal was reached in July 2015 and went into effect the next year. Under its terms Iran agreed to dismantle part of its nuclear program, surrender enriched fuel and submit to international inspection.
In December, Washington prolonged the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) by the United States that passed in 1996 and was set to expire on December 31, 2016.
The Bill on the extension of sanctions came into force without President Barack Obama's signature. Although Obama refused to sign it, he expressed no veto claims. Thus, the Bill became law as it had been passed by both chambers of the U.S. Congress by an overwhelming majority.
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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva
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