The U.S. could risk forfeiting its central role on the international
stage both politically and economically by splitting with its allies and
other major powers that oppose upcoming sanctions against Iran,
according to two former State Department officials who helped craft the
2015 nuclear deal.
In line with President Donald Trump's withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear agreement in May, the U.S. was set to impose Monday the first batch of sanctions that would affect Iran, as well as European and other international companies. The decision would be only the latest of a series of schisms between the Trump administration and the EU, which has continued to endorse the Iran deal.
When asked by Newsweek if top U.S. rivals China and Russia could stand to benefit from the split, former State Department Deputy Lead Coordinator and Coordinator for Iran Nuclear Implementation Jarrett Blanc said "yes."
"This is not strategic behavior, we're all over the map, we don't have a list of priorities, we're not relating issue A to issue B and so then of course that puts in a stronger position anyone who can set their priorities and tie these issues together," Blanc said Wednesday during a conference call hosted by progressive think tank Diplomacy Works, based in Washington, D.C.
Read more: U.S. Risks Losing World Power to China and Russia by Splitting with Allies on Iran, Experts Say
In line with President Donald Trump's withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear agreement in May, the U.S. was set to impose Monday the first batch of sanctions that would affect Iran, as well as European and other international companies. The decision would be only the latest of a series of schisms between the Trump administration and the EU, which has continued to endorse the Iran deal.
When asked by Newsweek if top U.S. rivals China and Russia could stand to benefit from the split, former State Department Deputy Lead Coordinator and Coordinator for Iran Nuclear Implementation Jarrett Blanc said "yes."
"This is not strategic behavior, we're all over the map, we don't have a list of priorities, we're not relating issue A to issue B and so then of course that puts in a stronger position anyone who can set their priorities and tie these issues together," Blanc said Wednesday during a conference call hosted by progressive think tank Diplomacy Works, based in Washington, D.C.
Read more: U.S. Risks Losing World Power to China and Russia by Splitting with Allies on Iran, Experts Say
