Assassination of an Iranian Nuclear Scientist … Before Biden’s Middle East Policy Began

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It is predicted that the assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist could confuse US President-elect Joe Biden’s solution to the Iranian nuclear problem.

The New York Times reported on the 27th (local time) that the assassination of Mosen Parkrizade, a scientist who led Iran’s nuclear development, could make it difficult to restore the Iranian nuclear deal (JCPOA, comprehensive joint plan of action) promised by Biden- elect.

CNN also diagnosed that if tensions rise in the Middle East due to Patriciade’s assassination, the Iranian nuclear problem, which is already difficult to solve, could become more difficult.

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The Iranian nuclear deal was a difficult achievement for President Barack Obama in July 2015, with Iran, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China participating.

However, President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew in May 2018, criticizing this as a “ diplomatic failure, ” who set out to erase Obama’s trail.

Later, the United States used hardline counterattack cards to bring Iran back to the negotiating table, reviving strong sanctions, but it didn’t work.

Rather, Iran insisted that it was a legitimate measure following the breach of the US contract and gradually reduced the scope of implementation of the freeze and reduction of nuclear programs promised in the May nuclear deal last year.

As the European side practically ceased economic exchanges with Iran, the nuclear deal became difficult to survive.

The international community expected the relationship between the two countries, which was largely displaced by the Trump administration, to change before the inauguration of the Biden administration.

Biden said he would rejoin the nuclear deal if Iran obeys the deal, such as restricting the use of uranium during presidential elections.

Iranian President Hassan Rohany, a prominent player in the nuclear deal, also expressed his expectations about the Biden government on the 25th (local time), saying that bilateral relations could return to the situation before Trump took office.

However, the New York Times diagnosed that if Israel, which has opposed the Iran nuclear deal, is behind the assassination, public opinion about accelerating the development of nuclear weapons within Iran could rise.

If the restoration of the Iranian nuclear deal is not resolved quickly before President Rohan’s term ends in June next year, it may be difficult to guarantee after that.

Ben Rose, who served as the White House National Security Council (NSC) deputy adviser to the Obama administration, wrote on Twitter that the assassination of an Iranian scientist was “a shocking act to undermine diplomacy between the new government and Iran”.

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The United States has not yet made any official comment on this case.

This shows that senior Trump administration staff are hesitant to intervene on the highly volatile Iranian issue at the end of their term, CNN said.

President Trump only shared an article in the New York Times about the death of Park Lizade and an article by an Israeli journalist that the incident was “a great psychological and commercial impact on Iran.”

The New York Times analyzed that if the United States attacks Iran to prevent the development of nuclear weapons, the relationship between the two countries will worsen to a difficult situation and will damage Biden-elect.

Previously, the New York Times reported that President Trump attempted to attack Iran’s main nuclear facilities at an internal White House meeting on the 12th, but collapsed under pressure from senior national security personnel.

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