The weirdest alliance: US and Iran

http://voiceofrussia.com/2014_06_15/The-weirdest-alliance-US-and-Iran-4107/



The weirdest alliance: US and Iran
15 June, 21:22

The new Iraqi crisis created a strange situation in which Washington tacitly approves the growth of Iran's influence in the region, hoping that the Ayatollahs will be able to contain the spread of sectarian violence and save America from a new public humiliation in the global arena.

According to Wall Street Journal, after Sunni jihadists from ISIL managed to take over several cities in Iraq, Iran decided to send special troops from the National Guard to bolster the defense of key Shiite cities, Karbalah and Nadjaf. It is also speculated that National Guard units will defend Baghdad from a possible assault. Iran officials also warned the jihadists from ISIL to stay clear of a 60-mile wide "protection zone" on the border between Iraq and Iran, stressing that Iran will use military force against trespassers. Under normal circumstances, such actions would result in a diplomatic scandal and threats of new sanctions from the United States and its allies. However, Washington remains silent, while Iran is reasserting its influence over its neighbor that used to be a satellite-state of the US.

The reason for Washington's unwillingness to deal with Iran's intervention in Iraq is that Iran is fighting a war that America is unable to fight. For Obama, sending ground troops to Iraq would be a political disaster and an implicit recognition of the fact that the Iraq war is not over. American presidents can't admit their failures and, willingly or not, Teheran is now working hard to save Obama's face. Iran's leaders are fully aware of the implications of their intervention in Iraq and they know that Obama would be happy to see them succeed in quashing the Sunni jihadists but would like to retain American control over Iraq's political establishment. Of course, for Iran this is unacceptable and its leaders are doing their best to force the US to offer meaningful concessions to Iran.

President Rouhani has already announced that he reached an agreement with the US and this agreement looks like a full capitulation from the US. If Rouhani's statement is true, then Iran will be allowed to enrich uranium and the sanctions will be lifted. It seems that the White House is willing to pay a hefty price in order to convince Iran to quash the jihadist threat in Iraq. Of course, Israel will be livid and will use all of its lobbying power in order to topple the diplomatic deal between Iran and US but its chances of success are slim.