DEBATE: Is a new ‘Trump deal’ the answer to the Iran nuclear problem? January 15, 2020 Is a new “Trump deal” the answer to the Iran nuclear problem? YES, says Ben Kelly, a commentator for Reaction. Does anyone genuinely believe that Donald Trump’s objection to the Iran nuclear deal was based on detailed analysis of its contents? No. Trump rejected it as part of his obsession with dismantling Barack Obama’s legacy. [...]
UK ambassador to Iran labelled ‘persona non grata’ by Iranian judges January 14, 2020 The UK’s ambassador to Iran has been called a “persona non grata” by the Islamic Republic’s judiciary, who claim he contributed to escalating anti-government tensions. Rob Macaire was detained by Iranian police this weekend for attending a vigil for those who died in last week’s plane crash in Tehran, before later being released. Gholam-Hossein Esmaili, [...]
Barrelling towards conflict: How the oil market reacted to Iran-US tensions January 14, 2020 For good or ill, oil remains the lifeblood of the global economy. It is essential to industrial production, to how we transport goods (as well as ourselves) around the world, and how we heat our homes and generally go about our everyday lives. Rising oil prices can therefore act as a handbrake on global growth, [...]
Foreign secretary warns Iran of further economic isolation January 13, 2020 Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has warned Iran of further political and economic isolation if the country does not start charting “a peaceful way forwards”. The government, which has been urging a de-escalation of tensions since the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani by the US, is still seeking a full, independent investigation in the Ukranian [...]
UK accuses Iran of violating international law for arresting ambassador January 12, 2020 The UK has accused Iran of a “flagrant violation of international law” after its ambassador was arrested returning from a vigil for those who died when the Islamic Republic shot down a passenger plane on Wednesday. Rob Macaire was arrested after the vigil turned into a protest against the Iranian regime, which he was accused [...]
World leaders blame Iran for accidentally shooting down plane January 9, 2020 World leaders have lined up to blame Iran of accidentally shooting down the Ukrainian passenger plane which crashed outside Tehran with no survivors in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that “there is now a body of information that the flight was shot down by an Iranian surface to air [...]
PM Johnson urges Iranian President Rouhani to ‘end hostilities’ January 9, 2020 Boris Johnson told his Iranian counterpart there must be “an end to hostilities” during a phone call between the pair this morning. The Prime Minister spoke with Hassan Rouhani for around 20 minutes, to discuss the aftermath of the US killing of Qasem Soleimani late last week. “The Prime Minister underlined the UK’s continued commitment [...]
Donald Trump says US will impose additional sanctions on Iran January 8, 2020 US president Donald Trump has said that the US will “immediately impose punishing additional sanctions” on Iran after the Islamic Republic fired missiles at two US bases in Iraq. The president said that no Americans were harmed in last night’s attacks, and that the US would continue to assess its options in response. Read more: [...]
Qassem Soleimani’s death is the UK’s first test of post-Brexit foreign policy January 8, 2020 It would be safe to say that the last thing our new government expected at the start of 2020 — flush with enthusiasm for its domestic agenda — was a foreign policy crisis, much less so one sprung upon it by the reaction of the mercurial Trump administration. But in truth, the drone strike on [...]