Iran-US tension at Munich Security Conference

World Today

Iran-US tension at Munich Security Conference

The Munich Security Conference comes to an end, with strained ties between Iran and the U.S among key issues. The White House has taken a hard-line stance against Tehran.

CGTN’s Guy Henderson reports from Munich.
Follow Guy Henderson on Twitter @guyhendersonde

A day after U.S. Vice President Mike Pence promised a hard-line on Iran, the country’s foreign minister hits back. “Iran does not respond well to threats, we don’t respond well to coercion,” Javad Zarif said in Munich.

It’s been nearly two years since an internationally brokered nuclear deal. Key members of the U.S. foreign policy establishment claim that the deal gives Tehran resources to fund regional conflicts.

Such words are well received by Gulf States who felt shunned during the U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration.

“I’m very optimistic about the new Trump administration. I know that there’s a lot of concern or questions in Europe about the new administration,” Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi Foreign Minister said.

One of those concerns is any attempt to undermine the nuclear agreement that some of the Europe’s key players worked hard on, with others including China, to finalize.

Iran is also a close regional ally of Russia. The Trump administration said it wants Moscow’s help in one of its main foreign policy priorities right now: defeating ISIL.

Turkey says it has proposed for more U.S. boots on the ground in Syria to replace the U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters it deems a threat.

How the Russians would respond isn’t clear, with hopes of finding common ground quickly receding in the past week.

Critics accused Donald Trump’s predecessor of diminishing American influence in the Middle East. In reversing that, the current U.S. president may face some major dilemmas.


Douglas Smith discusses Munich Security Conference and US foreign policy

For more on the Munich Security Conference and U.S. foreign policy CGTN’s Susan Roberts spoke with
Douglas Smith. He’s former Assistant Secretary for the United States Department of Homeland Security.