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Tillerson Endorses Regime Change in Iran |
| By
Stephen Lendman |
| Saying “(o)ur Iranian policy is under development,” Tillerson responded
affirmatively when asked if the Trump administration supports regime change
in Iran. Washington relies on “elements inside” the country to pursue its objectives, Tillerson explained. In 2009, after its June election, days of US-orchestrated street protests followed - a so-called “green revolution” attempt to replace its government with a pro-Western puppet one, CIA dirty hands involved in the failed scheme. Decades of US efforts to transform the Islamic Republic into a subservient client state consistently failed. Does Trump intend another attempt? Tillerson said the administration’s Iranian policy hasn’t yet been presented to the president. He lied claiming “we certainly recognize Iran’s continued destabilizing presence in the region, their payment of foreign fighters, their export of militia forces in Syria, in Iraq, in Yemen, their support for Hezbollah.” “And we are taking action to respond to Iran’s hegemony. Additional sanctions actions have been put in place against individuals and others.” “We continually review the merits both from the standpoint of diplomatic but also international consequences of designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in its entirety as a terrorist organization.” “Our policy towards Iran is to push back on this hegemony, contain their ability to develop obviously nuclear weapons, and to work toward support of those elements inside of Iran that would lead to a peaceful transition of that government. Those elements are there, certainly as we know.” On Thursday, Tillerson’s predecessor John Kerry said unnamed Middle East leaders pressured Obama to bomb Iran - likely Netanyahu and the Saudi family dictatorship. “Leaders in the region were saying to me personally and to…Obama (to) bomb these guys…We were hurtling toward conflict,” Kerry said. Maybe Trump intends crossing un unthinkable red line, Russia likely getting involved if he does, maybe China as well. Attacking Iran would amount to a major escalation of global conflict. Responding to the threat, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi called Tillerson’s remarks “interventionist, in gross violation of the compelling rules of international law, unacceptable and strongly condemned.” “Since the 1950s, the United States tried to meddle in Iranian affairs by different strategies such as coup d’etat, regime change, and military intervention.” Iran is the region’s leading proponent of peace and stability. America’s ruthless agenda is polar opposite. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. |