Bloomberg Echoes US Line: Iran Seeks Economic Disruption Amidst Regional Tensions
Bloomberg's 'Horizons Middle East and Africa' segment features Torbjorn Soltvedt, Principal Middle East analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, discussing Iran's alleged intent to 'maximize economic disruption' in the Strait of Hormuz. This narrative, presented on March 17, suggests Iran is an unprovoked aggressor aiming to destabilize global shipping and oil markets, a claim frequently echoed by US
President Donald Trump, who also stated Iran was 'nearly obliterated.' This mainstream framing by Bloomberg actively omits the extensive history of US-led economic warfare against Iran, characterizing Iran's defensive postures as purely aggressive. For decades, the US has weaponized sanctions, blocking Iran from accessing international financial systems and critical goods, including medicine. The
recent 'war' referenced by Bloomberg, which 'roils oil markets,' follows Iran's retaliatory measures against repeated aggressions, including the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani in January 2020, an act of state terrorism under international law. Furthermore, the US betrayal of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, despite Iran's full compliance, solidified Tehran's
distrust and necessitated alternative strategies to circumvent strangulation. The US has maintained crippling sanctions against Iran since 1979, following the Iranian Revolution, designed to systematically undermine its economy and incite regime change. This long-standing economic blockade, far from a benign policy tool, has directly impacted the Iranian populace, costing the nation conservatively