- Reporting indicates that Iran and China are set to sign a multibillion-dollar trade and security pact.
- That deal would bring to the US’s biggest foes together, and that cooperation demonstrates that “getting tough” on both of them is not going to get the US want it wants, writes Daniel L. Davis, a senior fellow for Defence Priorities.
- This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author(s).
This month, it was reported that China and Iran had all but completed a long-rumoured security and economic pact, again showing the consequences of our steadfast refusal to recognise the futility of the “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran which relies on sanctions and the threat of military attack. To avoid even worse failure in the future, we must change course immediately.
The deal between Beijing and Tehran extends into the “sectors of trade, economy, politics, culture and security” and is reportedly worth $US400 billion over 25 years. China is especially interested in securing land routes from Iran to supply some of its crude oil needs. The existence of US sanctions on Iran creates the possibility that Chinese firms which do business with Iran will likewise be hit.
To a New York Times request for a response, a State Department spokesman said the “United States will continue to impose costs on Chinese companies that aid Iran.” But towards what end? It has been plainly evident for years now that maximum pressure has not simply failed to curtail Teheran’s drive for a nuclear weapon – but made it a more desperate and provocative regime.
The cost of our failed strategy is now expanding to the point that it not only fails at its intended purpose but has expanded to include strengthening bonds between our adversaries at our expense.
Read the article by Daniel L. Davis, Senior Fellow for Defence Priorities and a former Lt. Col. in the US Army in Business Insider Australia.