LETTERS: FOR what it’s worth, there will be no winners in any potential full-scale conflict between the United States and Iran.
Teheran will be expected to continue the works and legacy of General Qasem Soleimani, perhaps with greater intensity and scope now.
While they have indicated that the dmissile strike on American bases in Iraq will be the only response for the killing of Soleimani, further threats to American bases and interests in the region will only invite a bigger response from the Trump administration.
Iran will, in the near future at least, want to show to the world and its adversaries that they will not bow to coercion, bullying and threats.
While the Iranian Revolutionary Guards are not expected to launch a full-scale assault on American interests and bases, they will continue their low-scale engagement through proxies.
It will take more effort to revive the nuclear agreement and Iran is expected to assert its right and capability to develop and enrich its uranium stockpile while at the same time leaving the door open to negotiations in order to seek much needed relief to its hard-hit economy under almost unprecedented sanctions.
Donald Trump will be wary of resorting to full use of military might and is expected to leverage on regional allies, utilisation and maximisation of economic tools in sanctions and embargo to continue to push Iran to alter its course and behaviour.
Latest reports show that the US had spent close to US$6.4 trillion (RM26 trillion) in the region since 9/11 and there is no appetite for further conflict that adds to the huge debt and psychological burden being borne for almost two decades now.
It remains to be seen the extent of success of Trump’s maximum pressure tactics on Iran and also the way forward for the Iranian regime in the immediate aftermath of its admission in the accidental missile strike on a Ukrainian commercial plane, which will arguably prove to be a watershed moment for both the regime and the Iranian people.
Future policies and acts will need to be confined to economic and non-military tools and to give priority to diplomacy, dialogue and engagement.
The way forward has always been to resort to diplomacy and dialogue and to resume talks which will also be potentially helpful by the readiness of other parties to support in the process.
No party will benefit from a prolonged crisis and conflict in the region.
It is high time wisdom, foresight and the push for dialogue and diplomacy be given prominence and for calm and restraint to be shown.
The most important factor is ensuring adherence to international laws and framework by all parties involved.
COLLINS CHONG
Melaka
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times