US extreme pressure on Iran risks opening Pandora's box: China Daily editorial

The Pentagon announced on Monday the United States is sending 1,000 troops to the Middle East, citing a rising threat from Iran. The same day, Teheran announced that in the next 10 days it would break the limits on how much enriched uranium it can stockpile, which it agreed to as part of the multilateral nuclear deal. Both moves will no doubt further strain the already tense atmosphere in the Middle East.

Tensions between Washington and Teheran were already high after two oil tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman last week. US officials say Iran was behind the attacks, but Teheran has denied having played any role.

Washington is playing a dangerous game of brinkmanship in an already highly volatile region. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in an interview with CBS on Sunday that the US is considering a full range of options, including a military response, to last week's attacks. Which has sparked widespread concern that the US' delight in its might and inability to meaningfully participate in any talks in which it is not laying down the law could see it engage in one of its typical gung-ho foolishnesses. Especially as the US president's national security adviser, John Bolton, is a longtime advocate of military action against Iran.

Before there is solid evidence pointing to the perpetrators of the oil tanker attacks, any unilateral move to further escalate tensions is anything but responsible. In a region with a complicated security situation, any misstep would trigger a larger conflict, imperil the international shipping lane and the region's already fragile security fabric at large.

The current tensions started after US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the multilateral Iranian nuclear deal last year. Since then, Washington has been exerting increasing pressure on Teheran through reinstating economic sanctions, ending waivers that allowed some countries to continue buying Iranian oil, and sending warships to Iran's doorstep.

The dislike of Iran, despite being spurious, is deeply ingrained in US conservatives. But Washington should know its brinkmanship in the Middle East risks consequences that the US too would be unable to bear. Many countries, including China, have called on the two sides to exercise restraint and refrain from taking any hasty actions that might inflame tensions. The Chinese foreign minister has warned against opening a Pandora's box.

It is in the common interests of Iran and the US to uphold safety of navigation and peace and stability in the region.