I certainly wouldn't want to go there right now.
The US withdrawal from the nuclear treaty and consequent sanctions must have hit the country hard. The capatin of the ship detained off Gib was apparently offered pieces of silver to take his ship to a place where US has influence. Said to be not the only offer of that type A 'bunker mentality' that say's everyone is against them is not surprising; the basics were there before. The fact they're in a conflict by proxy with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, essentially part of the Sunni/Shia schism, is another factor.
Not trying to justify taking westerners as 'hostages' bit it's really no surprising they behave as they do when under threat.
Given the nature of the state where the elected president/government and the Supreme Leader (ie Ayatollah successor to Khomeini) have to rub along with a third limb of government in the Republican Guard which is itself factionalised and in places corrupting itself for money only adds further complication.
The whole thing needs cool heads and diplomacy. The Obama administration seemed to recognise that. Unfortunately the man child in the White House cannot abide idea that previous administration might have been right.
The defenestration of John Bolton might make a difference but it's too soon to say right now.
|
Iran new
Iran new
