Recent developments in the region and across the globe are quickly evolving against the interests of Iran. This may truly lead to the regime’s utter downfall sooner than later. A series of events are resembling a chain reaction, forecasting such a drastic turn of events in the Middle East.
Hands Off
Washington denied Iran any access to the U.S. financial system. Iranian Central Bank chief Valiollah Seif held a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, on the sidelines of a World Bank/International Monetary Fund summit in Washington, asking for his aid in providing Iran facilitation to the U.S. financial institutions. Iran is seeking the ultimate goal of encouraging international banks to invest in its parched economy. However, White House Press Josh Earnest slapped back saying Iran gaining access to the U.S. financial system is not part of the nuclear agreement sealed last year.
Muslims Surprise Iran
Members of the Organization of Islamic Conference ratified a resolution in synergy severely condemning Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah. The OIC summit final statement slammed Iran for meddling in the internal affairs of regional countries and OIC members such as Bahrain, Yemen, Syria and Somalia, parallel to Tehran’s continuing support for terrorism. Iran was also condemned for orchestrating mobs to storm Saudi missions in Tehran and Mashhad. The Lebanese Hezbollah also got its share of the lashing, being condemned for its support of terrorism and destabilizing the region. Having no stomach for any further pounding, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stormed out of the meeting after hearing the statement.
The Oil Dispute
Apparently in response to taking a beating in the OIC summit, Iranian Oil Minister Bijhan Zanagan boycotted a conference of OPEC and non-OPEC members in Doha, sending Iran’s representative in OPEC to take part in his place. Major oil producers such as Saudi Arabia and Russia intend to decrease their oil production to help raise the price of oil. Iran, however, is in desperate need of oil money and has refused to decrease its oil output climax. In return, the Saudis responded in saying there will be no production cuts, meaning the current status of oil no longer being a major issue in the world market will continue, at least for now. Tehran suffers the most in such a scenario.
Russia Says No
Moscow said Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be meeting with Iran’s notorious Revolutionary Guards Quds Force chief Qassem Suleimani, who has is once again seeking the “Big Bear’s” support. Suleimani’s objective in this trip was to meet with Russian leaders and military commanders, Reuters reported citing informed sources. Of course, Suleimani’s ultimate goal was to meet with Putin and persuade him into providing more support in Syria after Russia decided to pull out the bulk of its forces. This is Suleimani’s second trip to Moscow after Iran signed a nuclear deal with the P5+1. Despite all his effort, the Kremlin said there is no scheduled meeting between Putin and Suleimani.
Russia Says Yes
Considered a major insult by Iran, the Kremlin said Putin will in fact be meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when a delegation of Israeli and Palestinian leaders visit Moscow on April 18th to discuss the Middle East peace process. Putin’s separate meeting with Netanyahu is scheduled for April 21st to weigh the existing disputes between Arabs and Israel, along with the situation on the ground in Syria. Interesting is Iran considered Russia its ally in the Syria dossier, yet arranged talks between Putin and Netanyahu, a sworn enemy of the mullahs’ in Iran, reveals there are other plans in mind.
All in all, Iran is suffering major setbacks and feeling the heat from within, throughout the Middle East and across the globe. We must wait and see if Tehran once again adopts a policy of “heroic softness” or treks the path of “resistance” this time around. Any trail the mullahs chose, however, the ultimate crumbling of the “Islamic Republic” appears imminent.
Follow Pejman at @pj_arad
