Turkey, Iraq and Pakistan are rejecting US demands related to Iran, The New York Times reported. The newspaper wrote that US attempts to pressure Iran’s neighbouring countries to close their borders have failed.
Turkey has refused to change its border policy, while Iraq has declined to close all border crossings except two. The situation is reported to be hampering Washington’s plans to tighten the economic blockade against Iran.
Could Washington take any action against these three countries over their refusal? Does this mean that plans to attack Iran have also fallen through?
Speaking to Globalinfo.az, political commentator Alabbas Maharramov said Iraq would be in the most difficult position in this situation:
“Because Iraq’s economic and financial dependence on the United States is greater than that of Turkey and Pakistan. Washington has significant leverage over Iraq’s oil revenues and dollar transactions. Pakistan is a nuclear power and has a strong army, while Turkey, in addition to being a NATO member, possesses significant military and political power in the region. Therefore, I believe the United States will first try to increase economic and diplomatic pressure on Iraq.
On the other hand, under the current circumstances, I do not believe Washington will use military force against these countries. I believe the main pressure tools will be diplomatic, economic and financial in nature.
Alabbas Maharramov
President Donald Trump’s weakening political position within the United States should also be taken into account. The Democrats gaining an advantage in both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the November 3 midterm elections could make it more difficult for him to implement his decisions over the next two years. The new Congress will begin work on January 3. This could increase political and institutional obstacles, particularly to decisions on large-scale military operations against Iran. Nevertheless, Trump’s authority to make military decisions is not automatically restricted.
Therefore, I believe that in the coming period, the main question will not be whether the United States launches a military operation against Iran, but whether Washington can achieve the desired result through economic and diplomatic pressure. Time will show which direction events will take.”
Turan Rzayev
Globalinfo.az
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