Vacuum created

IN THE end, President Donald Trump delivered on yet another of his campaign promises by pulling the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which was aimed at putting a cap on Tehran’s atomic weapons and uranium enrichment programmes.

The move wasn’t much of a surprise even to the closest allies of the US, what with Mr Trump losing no opportunity to run down the deal since he assumed office last year.

But it was yet another instance of the Trump administration abandoning a deal or arrangement without putting in place or working towards a replacement – a sure-fire way to ensure a vacuum and uncertainty for a key deal that was meant to reduce instability in West Asia, hardly a region known for stability over the past several decades.

Even Mr Trump’s vague promise of being “ready, willing and able” to negotiate a “new and lasting deal” means little, especially when his actions show the US cannot be perceived as a responsible player in negotiating and standing by international or multilateral arrangements.

His action is all the more surprising as it comes weeks ahead of a meeting with of Kim Jong Un of North Korea, which is possibly looking at an Iranlike deal to even think about rolling back its nuclear programme.

Giving up on the deal will only increase uncertainty about the US among its closest allies Mr Trump decided to act even after the US intelligence community had verified that Iran is meeting its responsibilities under the deal. In the circumstances, Tehran’s anger is understandable.

Mr Trump’s action will have significant consequences for India, for whom Iran is the third largest oil supplier. Oil prices, already at a four-year high, could rise further, affecting domestic inflation.