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Celebrated as the "best public intellectual of the world", Chomsky is the leading critic of American foreign policy, state capitalism and mainstream media. In an exclusive interview with the Tehran Times, he talks about the Iranian-American stalemate over JCPOA, Iran's nuclear program and US foreign policy.
Here is the question and answers to Chomsky by email:
The United States withdrew from the Iranian nuclear deal despite Iran's compliance with all commitments made in the framework of the historic agreement. What are its possible repercussions?
Unfortunately, it is unlikely that Europe is prepared to face the United States on this point significantly. I hope others will be less intimidated.
The fervent hope of Trump, Bolton and Netanyahu is that Iran will react by violating the JCPOA for the first time. It would be a pretext for actions that I do not need to describe, which would be disastrous. A similar approach to a statesman in response to this shameful behavior is not easy, but it's the right way, and could serve to isolate the United States on the international scene, as this is already happening for many reasons.
President Trump urged all countries to stop importing oil from Iran with the aim of strangling the Iranian economy. Of the top three Iranian oil buyers, China and Turkey have refused to pay attention, but India would have agreed to cut back imports of oil from Iran. Do you think the United States behaves like a tyrant?
Of course, the United States behaves like a tyrant. And unfortunately, this is not the first time
The United States has decided to reimpose sanctions against Iran, which, as a signatory of the NPT, claims the right to prosecute a peaceful nuclear program for energy purposes. While countries like Israel, India and Pakistan, which have not signed the NPT and produced clandestine nuclear weapons, are considered "responsible" nations. Are not these double standards?
These are two things less than two weights, two measures. In each case (India, Pakistan, Israel), the United States supported their nuclear weapons programs in one way or another. At the same time, he prevented Iran from continuing its peaceful nuclear program.
Do you think US foreign policy has hit a new low under President Donald Trump?
Not really. The invasion of Iraq was a much worse crime than anything that Donald Trump did. The American wars in Indochina were even more serious crimes
All the countries of this region, especially Pakistan and Iran, have interests in peaceful Afghanistan where the war imposed by the United States enters its 17th year. Do you agree that the international community has failed to achieve its goals in Afghanistan?
The countries of the world – I hesitate to call them a community – do not speak with one voice. The goals of Pakistan and the United States differ, and Iran still has different goals. The countries of the world led by the United States have indeed failed in Afghanistan
The trade war between the United States and China intensifies, threatening to trigger a global trade war. Do you think Trump has been cheated?
It depends on what he is trying to accomplish. If that's what he says, then that's the wrong way. But we do not badume that the goals of political leaders are the same as what they say. If his goal is to mobilize his followers into believing that he is the only person willing to resist foreign enemies and protect them, then this can work – for at least some time.
Interviewed by: Syed Zafar Mehdi
MNA / TT
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