Iran responds to “empty” US threats after their withdrawal from the nuclear deal imposed under former President Obama, by the name of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. In 2018, the current US President Trump withdrew from the agreement, causing controversy about the relationship between the two countries. As a response to US withdrawal, Iran began to breach some of the arrangements outlined in the 2015 deal. After years of sanctions, a deal was made to lift them with the compromise of Iran reducing its nuclear program. Despite no current US legal ties to the nuclear deal, United States’ officials wish to implement the “snapback” clause, continuing the embargo on Iranian arms, opposing the October 18th expiration date. An anonymous US official threatened sanctions on those involved in nuclear, missile, and arms programs. These claims have been widely ignored by the UN, being referenced as “illegitimate” and “incapable of having any legal effect” by the UK and France along with UN Secretary Gutteres respectively. President Rouhani of Iran responded to the baseless US’ claims saying, the US is facing defeat and is a threat to international peace. No doubt angered by the newly implemented sanctions after the US withdrawal, heavily damaging the Iranian economy by dropping oil prices, Iran threatens a “serious reaction” and “dangerous consequences” if the US or its allies proceed forward with the threats. Though there has been US-Iranian tension bubbling for years with Iran’s ever expanding nuclear weapon programs, current global instability elevates the growing issues. With unsteady US leadership, their reaction to Iran’s response could vary in severity. Though nobody is to know how each country will respond if the threats become a reality, the effects will be universally damaging. Iran will suffer with increased sanctions placed upon an already struggling economy likely causing civilian and political unrest. If Iran does execute the serious reaction it has promised, US-Iranian relations could be severely alerted to the point of violence and a permanent global rivalry. In addition, US officials may be angered by the UN and allied countries lack of support for their desired consequences aimed at the Iranians, ignoring US sentiment claiming that the US still has the right to trigger the snapback clause. Ultimately angering US officials and President Trump further with unknown repercussions, further threatening countries not enforcing the sanctions. These threats could have additional repercussions from their allies, expanding on the growing global turmoil. This turn of events seems completely unnecessary in the midst of the pandemic’s lasting effects on economies and societies across the globe. Though nuclear weapons are not something to be taken lightly, some consideration should be taken to the legality of claims before they are made. In addition, there should be more critical thinking of the benefits and consequences of each countries’ respective actions. There may be a fight to be had however, the current world has no place for it.
