The fact that the two sides are willing to endanger Iran, the region and world – to further their specific gains – is heartbreaking.
by Shiva Kambari
I have been a peace activist for over forty years. It was in fact this activism and my work towards a freeze in the nuclear build-up, which led me to change my major from Genetics to International Relations at the end of my third year at UC Berkeley.
Slightly over a month after the defence of my doctoral thesis in Leipzig, the first bombardment of Iraq began. Fearful of an eventual confrontation with Iran (the country I was born in) I started to work towards an agreement with Iran over its nuclear program by forming various small groups – which over nearly thirty years have remained independent – refusing offers of joining various lobbies.
For over two decades, my own company and business gave me the resources and time to remain independent and thus I planned my life in such a way to work towards this goal.
Nevertheless, during these tense days and weeks, I prefer to remain critically distanced from the crisis between the Trump administration and the Islamic Republic of Iran, as my assessment is that neither side wants war but that both sides are willing to risk much to gain as much advantage as possible. Since there are some players involved in this intricate plot who do wish war, such a high risk strategy can lead to a dangerous outcome.
The fact that the two sides are willing to endanger Iran, the region and world – to further their specific gains – is unacceptable to me and therefore I choose to watch and hope that they come to an agreement with one another.
And thereafter, we shall have to seek and find a way out of the stalemate all this has brought upon the Iranian civil society.