This refers to the article, “The Iran deal isn't about a bomb” (July 23) by Mayuri Mukherjee. Under the deal between the United States, the European Union and five major powers, Iran has accepted curbs on its nuclear programme in return for easing of sanctions that have crippled its economy. The conclusion by the writer that Iran can eventually emerge as a counter-balance to Saudi Arabia — the fountainhead of Sunni terrorism that wreaks havoc across the world today — may be correct. But there is a lot of opposition to the deal from Republicans in the US.
Israel has also slammed the agreement, and the response of Saudi Arabia has been lukewarm. In Iran too, Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been less than welcoming, forcing the Deputy Foreign Minister to issue a statement that his nation would continue to help its allies in West Asia. This underlines Tehran's message that the deal will not change its anti-Western foreign policy.