Tehran — The international order, at least as we once understood it, should now be considered a thing of the past. What happened shortly after midnight on January 3 in Caracas was a symbolic marker of that shift. The United States government, in what can only be described as gangster-like conduct, abducted the lawful president of a sovereign nation and his wife. Donald Trump bluntly and brazenly declared that it was all about Venezuela’s oil.
Even before that night, the world was hardly a law-governed arena rooted in firm principles. But the episode underscored a harsher truth: today’s world resembles a jungle more than ever — one that operates solely on the law of survival, where battles over territory and resources unfold without red lines.
Let us speak plainly. In my view, Russia, China, and Iran miscalculated in the Venezuela affair and in the abduction of Maduro by failing to take the necessary action. There is little doubt that the episode was less a military operation than a staged spectacle. Yet that spectacle could just as easily have turned from a display of Trump’s swagger into a scene of humiliation.
Imagine if several dozen American troops had been killed or wounded, and a handful taken prisoner. This is hardly an outlandish or far-fetched scenario. Had that occurred, what would have remained of “Papa Trump”?
In the aftermath of the Venezuela episode, Trump’s illusions appear only to have deepened, fueled further by the provocations of some within his inner circle.
The deployment of military equipment to West Asia and its positioning around Iran — in the hope of forcing Tehran into submission — is one manifestation of that illusion.
It makes little difference how many aircraft carriers or fighter jets Washington sends to the region. Iran is not in the habit of raising its hands in surrender.
Should Trump once again fall victim to a miscalculation and ignite a war, Iran’s response would exceed expectations.
Tehran does not expect China or Russia to participate directly in such a conflict. During the twelve-day war, Iran stood alone, mounting a resolute defense against Israel, the United States, and NATO. The same would hold true in any future confrontation.
That said, Moscow and Beijing should understand that any form of assistance or support extended to Iran would, in reality, constitute a defense of their own strategic interests. If they adopt a deep and long-term view of the unfolding landscape, they will not easily let this opportunity pass — an opportunity that is arguably rare in the emerging international order now taking shape.
Countries around the world are watching closely. They are recalibrating their policies and asking themselves a fundamental question: in this new world, how far — and to what extent — can they rely on Moscow and Beijing?
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: tehrantimes.com
