DNA TV Show: Row over fat-containing laddus in Tirupati Temple
Kolkata rape-murder case: Junior doctors to end protest, resume emergency services from...
Salman Khan's security breached, case registered against biker following actor's car
Sarfaraz Ahmed trolls Babar Azam in Champions One-Day Cup, star batter responds with century
After reducing debt, Anil Ambani's company now approves Rs 3014 crore...
Legends League Cricket 2024: Full schedule, squads, live streaming - All you need to know
India reacts to report on diversion of Indian defence exports to Ukraine, says, ‘it is…’
Tata Group-owned app to deliver iPhone 16 models in 10 minutes, service starts from…
Amitabh Bachchan apologises for this reason in viral video: 'Galat ho gaya tha...'
New COVID-19’s XEC 'contagious' variant spreads across 27 countries, here's what you need to know
Verantes Living Awarded as India’s No.1 Stainless Steel Modular Kitchen Brand
Narayana Murthy’s Infosys set to invest Rs 170000000 in this startup
Discover Stainless France, the Leading Supplier of Cobalt Chrome
India dismisses Khalistani terrorist Pannun's US lawsuit over assassination attempt, calls it…
IND vs BAN, 1st Test: R Ashwin joins Ravindra Jadeja in elite club, becomes second cricketer to....
More trouble for ex-RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh, Bengal medical body now...
Tirupati Laddu row: Lab report confirms prasada contains beef fat, fish oil
Meet IPS officer who has resigned after serving for 18 yrs due to...
ITR filing: Haven’t received your income tax refund yet? Here’s what you should do
FATF says India faces severe 'terrorist financing threats' from...
WATCH: IAS officer poses as customer at liquor shop, imposes Rs 50000 fine for....
Meet Indian man, who got hired whopping Rs 12000000 crore salary job, not from IIT, IIM he is...
Meet ‘delivery boy’ who beats Mukesh Ambani in world’s billionaire list, his net worth is…
Suriya, Bobby Deol-starrer Kanguva gets new release date, averts clash with Rajinikanth's Vettaiyan
This Bajaj Group company's shares rose by Rs 1687 in just 5 days after...
5 super expensive assets Mukesh Ambani owns: Rs 15000 crore home, Rs 600 crore jet, MI worth...
IND vs BAN, 1st Test: Shubman Gill joins Virat Kohli in unwanted list after poor outing on Day 1
“I'm gonna cut…”: Know what Andrew Flintoff said to Yuvraj Singh before his 6 sixes feat
Kareena Kapoor revives vintage glam in 25-year-old Banarasi saree makeover
Atishi’s Delhi cabinet: AAP leader to retain four minsters; new face to be included
Centre investigates 26-year-old EY employee's death amid massive outrage
NASA's James Webb unveils black hole starving its host galaxy; see pic
'They will also finish....': Akhilesh Yadav slams BJP over 'one nation, one election'
Housing society issues notice over too many deliveries asks to hire personal watchman
ICC releases venues for women's T20 world cup, check list here
J-K Assembly Election 2024: 'Abdullahs, Muftis, Gandhis have given...,' says PM Modi in Srinagar
Meet woman who left medical career for UPSC exam , became IPS with AIR 165 then left job due to...
Meet Indian billionaire with Rs 32615 crore net worth who wants you to save Rs 600 daily because...
IAS Puja Khedkar case latest update: Delhi HC issues...; Know details here
Haryana Assembly Election 2024: BJP releases election manifesto, guarantees...
Amid Ind vs Ban, why is 'boycottBangladeshCricket' trending on social media? Know here
'Usko dekh...': Rishabh Pant during war of words with Liton Das during Ind vs Ban test
This is world's costliest rice, price of 1 kg will leave you shocked, it is grown in...
Could your phone be the next bomb? The scary truth about remote explosions
Watch video: Rohit Sharma's reaction after Virat Kohli's dismissal in Ind vs Ban test match
Bihar: 15 people held for torching 21 houses in Nawada, government says more arrests likely
Atishi, along with new cabinet, to take oath as Delhi CM on..., know details here
Ed raids ex-IAS, Noida Authority CEO's house, Rs 1 crore cash, Rs 19 crore jewellery recovered
Hezbollah walkie-talkie blast kills 20 in Lebanon; Israel declares 'start of new phase in war'
NASA Alert: Giant asteroid Apophis, as big as a skyscraper, will approach Earth on...
Himesh Reshammiya's father, music director Vipin Reshammiya, passes away at 87
This is now India's biggest alcohol firm, has surpassed Johnnie Walker maker Diageo by Rs...
Big win for ISRO: Centre approves Chandrayaan-4, Venus mission and a space station; allocates Rs...
ANALYSIS
Current US President, Joe Biden initially made efforts towards reducing tensions with Iran and reviving the Iran nuclear deal
TRENDING NOW
Iran-US ties have witnessed a steady deterioration ever since the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal 2015, also referred to as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action JCPOA, during the Trump Administration in 2018. Current US President, Joe Biden initially made efforts towards reducing tensions with Iran and reviving the Iran nuclear deal. It would be pertinent to point out that the Biden administration had also turned a blind eye to Iran’s sale of oil, in violation of US sanctions, in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Iran’s violation of nuclear commitments made under JCPOA, supply of arms to Russia – during the Russia-Ukraine war and the current situation in the Middle East, where the Iran-Israel conflict could escalate further, has reduced the scope of reduction of tensions between Washington and Tehran. Biden also faced strong opposition domestically – especially from Republican policy makers – for his Iran policy. Donald Trump blamed Biden’s decision of releasing $6 billion for Iran for humanitarian purposes – in return for a prisoner swap – and relaxation of sanctions for the turmoil in the Middle East. The former US President said that the above decisions of the Biden administration were a blunder since they enabled Iran the space to provide financial assistance to Hamas (several other Republican lawmakers have criticised Biden’s Iran policy).
The Biden administration denied that it had actually released the funds and also blamed Trump’s Iran policy for pushing Iran towards accelerating its enriched uranium well beyond the limits set by the JCPOA. While commenting on sanctions imposed during his presidency, Joe Biden said: "During my Administration, the United States has sanctioned over 600 individuals and entities — including Iran and its proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Kataib Hezbollah. And we will keep at it. I've directed my team, including the Department of the Treasury, to continue to impose sanctions that further degrade Iran's military industries."
With an eye on circumventing stringentUS sanctions, Iran has also begun to explore de-dollarisation or the reduction of dependence upon the US Dollar for trade. Iran entered the BRICS+ grouping in January 2024 and has signed an agreement for conducting trade in local currencies with Russia.
Amidst the tensions, there have been important back channels between Iran and Washington DC. In January 2024, Oman had hosted a back channel between US and Iran where senior negotiators from both sides were present. Even amidst the recent Iran-Israel tensions, Oman has tried to intervene. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian had visited Muscat last month.
North Korean delegation’s visit to Iran
The recent visit of a North Korean delegation to Iran will only enhance tensions between Tehran and Washington DC. A delegation led by Yun Jung Ho, North Korea’s minister of external economic relations attended an Iranian expo in Tehran and discussed bilateral trade with Iranian government officials and explored potential avenues of cooperation with Iran’s private sector.
Russia-Iran-North Korea axis
Iran dismissed allegations that both countries were exploring cooperation in “missile programs''. North Korea and Tehran established diplomatic relations in 1973. During Iran’s war with Iraq in the 1980’s, North Korea provided support. The changing geopolitical situation in recent years has witnessed the strengthening of the Russia-Iran-North Korea axis. In 2020, North Korea had proposed that Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization and the North Korean Trade Development Committee establish a Joint Trade Committee. In September 2023, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un had visited Russia’s Far East and met with Russian President, Vladimir Putin at President Vladimir Putin of Russia at the Vostochny Cosmodrome. Washington dubbed Putin’s meeting with Kim Jong Un as an “act of desperation”.
Kim Jong Un on his part offered Pyongyang’s support for Moscow in what he described as the latter’s “sacred fight” against hegemonic forces (the North Korean leader was alluding to the west).North Korea, like Iran, has been accused of providing support to Russia during the Russia and Ukraine war. Pyongyang has also supported Iran during the Middle East conflict and categorically blames Israel for the current tensions in the Middle East. South Korea has stated that Hamas was using North Korean weapons against Israel.
In the current economic landscape, where all three are facing sanctions, they are bound to explore economic cooperation. The west, especially the US, has concerns regarding strategic cooperation between all three countries. While commenting on potential nuclear cooperation between North Korea and Iran, the US State Department expressed its concern and also said that it was keeping a close watch on military cooperation between both sides.
In conclusion, Iran’s growing cooperation with North Korea is a strong reiteration of Tehran having clearly moved away from the west. The west would be clearly concerned about Iran’s growing proximity with not just Beijing, but Russia and North Korea and ties between Washington and Tehran are only likely to go downhill as a result. While revival of the JCPOA now seems unlikely, and tensions between Washington and Tehran are unlikely to reduce given the current situation in the Middle East, the latter would be well advised to keep back channels with Tehran open.
The author is a policy analyst and faculty member at the Jindal School of International Affairs, OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat.
(Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own and do not reflect those of DNA)