Trump's little pandemic, Twitter, and trade war with China - he sharply raised rates in a protracted conflict with Iran. This time, Russian, Chinese and European companies operating in Iran were under fire - in full accordance with the decisions of the Security Council and the 2015 nuclear deal. The United States is one of the participants in this transaction (it is the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (JCPOA), according to which Iran agreed to abandon the production of nuclear weapons in exchange for assistance with the peaceful atom program, as well as to lift many sanctions.

The United States withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 - and imposed sanctions and bans on Iran. It would seem that American sanctions can only apply to American companies, and other countries have not written American law. So, but not so. Americans love secondary sanctions - sanctions against companies that do not comply with US sanctions. They are contrary to international law, but that never stopped Washington.

Recall that, with such secondary sanctions, the US foiled the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. At the last moment, they demanded that the Swiss pipe-laying machine stop work, and the one like the pretty one left everything and left.

Now such secondary sanctions threaten Russia, China and European companies. They continued to work in Iran, and the United States every two months gave them a reprieve from secondary sanctions. But this time they did not give a respite. More precisely, they gave, but they said - for the last time. And now these companies need to decide: to act as a Swiss pipelayer or to neglect American requirements, which, as we have already noticed, are not based on international law.

Nobody likes to argue or quarrel with the USA. They can prohibit settlements in dollars, they can prohibit transfers through many banks, seize accounts, initiate criminal proceedings against people who have not been to the United States and have nothing to do with the United States. In short, they can do anything.

But Russia answered. “Russia will fulfill all its agreements with Iran,” said Leonid Slutsky, head of the State Duma’s committee on international affairs.

For Russia, we are talking primarily about the Bushehr nuclear reactor, about the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Russian companies working there have received 90 days of deferment, but it is unlikely to be extended. Russia received 60 days of delay for the last time in operations related to the export of spent nuclear fuel and the supply of enriched uranium for the Tehran research nuclear reactor. Europeans and Chinese have received the last 60 days to operate the Arak heavy water reactor. Thus, Trump drove the last nail into the coffin of the SVPD.

Prior to this decision, Europeans and Russia could continue to fulfill their commitments under the JCPOA and pretend that US withdrawal had not changed anything in the nuclear deal. Now it will fail. You have to decide: go against the will of the United States or surrender and bury the deal.

The head of the Federation Council committee on international affairs, Konstantin Kosachev, said that Russia would continue to implement agreements with Iran. Europeans have not yet responded. The Iranians said that they are up to the decision of the United States.

The Iranians have convincingly demonstrated their readiness to neglect American sanctions the other day when they sent five tankers under their own flag to Venezuela with a cargo of gasoline and gas-related components. Venezuela is under severe American sanctions, and this largest oil producer has lost the ability to produce motor gasoline. The existing refining and processing plant burned down as a result of an external attack. Other capacities cannot be used due to the lack of necessary components. The ships of the American Navy are standing at sea, ready to stop any neutral-flagged tanker going to Venezuela. And Iran helped Venezuela by sending fuel under its own flag. The Americans did not dare to stop the tankers: Iran promised to respond with a missile strike, if they dare.

In a sense, the current US decision can be considered a response to Iran’s bold move. And you can not take it: Trump's secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has long demanded that his boss stop ceasing to grant deferrals to international companies and lock Iran against the wall.

American observers note that the result could be Iran’s return to a military nuclear program and the creation of its own atomic bomb in the shortest possible time - that’s what the nuclear deal was directed against. Why is the US doing this? Opinions differ here. Perhaps in order to deliver a powerful bombing attack on Iranian nuclear facilities that have withdrawn from the nuclear deal. To do this on the eve of the elections - and thus gain the fame of the winner and get the votes of voters who love victorious wars. If Europeans, Russians and Chinese remain at these facilities, then this step will become unpredictable in its consequences.

Thus, at this most difficult time, when humanity is at a magical intersection - to lose a horse, not to demolish your head? - added another complicating element. The Russian leadership must soberly and fearlessly calculate its steps and reactions and timely warn the United States and its partners in the nuclear deal about the possible consequences. The time of timidity and indecision has passed. Now is the time for decisions.

The author’s point of view may not coincide with the position of the publisher.