pcr says maybe, peace; 

 

We Are a Long Way from a Peace Deal

Paul Craig Roberts

Friday came on Wednesday. Last night the Memorandum of Understanding that was supposed to be signed tomorrow in Switzerland was signed digitally by the US and Iranian presidents.  The Iranian explanation for the digital signing is that “When the text is signed by the highest authorities of both countries, violating it will naturally carry greater costs. Given our past experiences, we preferred that this happen.”

Iran signed the MoU on the condition that Israel’s attacks on Lebanon cease.  Israel has refused.  So why did Iran sign? Perhaps the answer is that the onus is on President Trump to make Israel comply.  Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said:

.”We do not separate the US and the Zionist regime . . . it is the US’s responsibility to compel the Zionist regime to respect US commitments to Iran.” He added that Iran will monitor US implementation “without any leniency” and will only carry out its own commitments once the other side fulfills its promises.

All parties to the conflict except Israel have been claiming a US-Iranian “Peace Deal” as a “Major Victory.” Even Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia defending Lebanon from ongoing Israeli attack, calls it a victory.

This is very odd as there is no peace deal.  There is a Memorandum of Understanding that  is based on conditions with which Israel has refused to comply, namely the cessation of attacks on Lebanon and Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese occupied territories. The US and Iran are both taking credit for a non-existent peace deal. For example, Iran’s ambassador to India told reporters that the MoU is “a highly significant strategic achievement” for Iran and “constitutes a major victory for the Iranian nation.”  https://www.rt.com/india/641740-mohammad-fathali-iran-us/   .........more...........