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Trump’s Disturbing Toughness on Iran |
| By
Stephen Lendman |
In his quarterly report to Congress on whether Iran is complying with the 2015 nuclear deal, Trump intervened to get Secretary of State Tillerson to toughen his comments. Along with affirming Tehran’s compliance with JCPOA terms, he disgracefully accused its government of being “a state sponsor of terror through many platforms and methods.” He cited no credible evidence because none exists. He said the administration will decide whether to impose additional sanctions. The day after sending his letter to Congress, he sharply criticized the nuclear deal, outrageously calling it “another example of buying off a power who has nuclear ambitions.” “We buy them off for a short period of time and then someone has to deal with it later.” His comments reflected what Trump and National Security Advisor McMaster wanted said - no matter how hostile and untrue. Trump earlier referred to the JCPOA as “the horrible Iran deal.” He lied claiming it’ll let Tehran develop nuclear weapons eventually. He never read the agreement, knows nothing about it other than what he’s told. Saying Iran doesn’t “liv(e) up to the spirit of the agreement” is a bald-faced lie. “(W)e’ll have something to say about it in the not-too-distant future,” he added. Responding via Twitter, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said “(w)orn-out US accusations can’t mask its admission of Iran’s compliance.” Tehran scrupulously observes JCPOA terms. It abhors nuclear weapons, wants the region free of them. It’s committed to combat the scourge of terrorism America, NATO, Israel and their rogue allies support. On Wednesday, speaking at Moscow’s Conference for International Security, Russian and Iranian officials pledged united support against terrorism. They blasted Trump’s April 7 naked aggression on Syria’s Shayrat airbase - based on the phony claim about Assad’s alleged responsibility for the April 4 Khan Sheikhoun CW attack he had nothing to do with. Iranian Defense Minister General Hossein Dehqan accused Washington of furthering a new form of “international fascism,” by implementing a new “commercializing security” doctrine. “Iran will continue to cooperate with powerful Russia against terrorist movements until the end. The Islamic Republic is of the belief that the front formed in Syria by Russia, Iran and the Arab country’s legitimate government and its resistant people will eventually conquer the terrorists,” he added. Sergey Lavrov called Trump’s April 7 attack “a flagrant violation of international law and an act of aggression against a sovereign state.” He called for an unbiased, independent, transparent investigation into what happened. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s comments were similar to Lavrov’s, adding: “Washington’s actions have created a threat to the lives of our soldiers, who are in Syria fighting terrorism” - ISIS and other elements America and its rogue allies support. 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. |