Afghanistan crisis: stop treating Iran like an outcast – Yorkshire Post Letters

A Taliban fighter (right) searches the bags of people exiting the Kabul airport in Kabul on August 16, 2021, after a surprisingly rapid end to the 20-year war in Afghanistan, as thousands invaded the airport of town trying to flee from the group. feared the uncompromising mark of Islamist rule. (Photo by Wakil Kohsar / AFP) (Photo by WAKIL KOHSAR / AFP via Getty Images).

CONGRATULATIONS on your coverage of the Afghan tragedy. This tragedy will not be resolved anytime soon, and much depends on the big neighbors of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China – and the pariah nation Iran.

British newspapers reinforce Iran’s unfair reputation not by what they say but by what they don’t. Unfortunately, your last article on Iran (The Yorkshire Post, August 18) follows this pattern.

The report admirably explains the 2015 nuclear deal, created to prevent Iran from manufacturing nuclear weapons. This agreement was concluded between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Afghans sit along the tarmac as they wait to leave Kabul Airport in Kabul on August 16, 2021, after a surprisingly swift end to the 20-year war in Afghanistan, as thousands rallied against it city airport in an attempt to flee the group’s dreaded intransigent brand. of the Islamist regime. (Photo by Wakil Kohsar / AFP) (Photo by WAKIL KOHSAR / AFP via Getty Images).

Now let’s add some context. The deal was supposed to strengthen the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, under which nuclear nations “not having” agreed not to acquire nuclear weapons, while nations “having” agreed to reduce their stocks. to zero. Most “have-not” nations abide by the treaty. Most nations “have” do not and keep large stocks. Our government plans to increase ours by 40%.

So, five “have” nations, ruled (until 2018) by the only nation that actually used nuclear weapons, censored and impoverished a “have-not” nation that didn’t make a bomb and said it didn’t. does not. intend to. Meanwhile, the “destitute” of India, Pakistan and Israel have been making bombs, but still enjoy the support of the United States. And this grotesque situation is considered normal!

Why then is Iran being unfairly targeted? “An Iranian bomb would threaten Israel! No, but it would threaten Israel’s regional nuclear dominance, vital to the United States.

Then there are Iran’s oil reserves and its contempt for American supremacy, which explains its appalling treatment at the hands of the United States. Since 1945, the United States has toppled a democratic Iranian government, supported the Shah’s reign of terror, supported Iraq’s unprovoked war against Iran, and more. Iran has not done any of these things in the United States. But it is Iran that we call “pariah”.

People wait to be evacuated from Afghanistan at Kabul airport on August 18, 2021 following the stunning takeover of the country by the Taliban. (Photo by – / AFP) (Photo by – / AFP via Getty Images).

Yes, the Iranian regime is oppressive, but a nation is not made tolerant by being persecuted. And now we have to depend on Iran’s cooperation.

Will we get it? May be. Do we deserve it? No. I must finally admit that I was deplorable ignoring Iran in 1961, when I was working for the Pentagon in Washington DC and coincidentally, I was invited to a beautiful and wacky party at the Iranian Embassy, where I I even shook hands with the Shah’s son-in-law, then the ambassador.

He was later relieved of both roles, but that’s another story.

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