Iran Withdraws From Nuke Inspections: A Predictable Crisis
Iran has reportedly informed the IAEA it will withdraw from international nuclear inspections, a move the NY Times frames as another rogue act (NYT Politics, 2025). This 'alarming development' is presented in a vacuum, devoid of the crucial context: the United States, under Trump, unilaterally abandoned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, despite Iran's continued compliance
according to the IAEA. The deal was designed to prevent proliferation; the US withdrawal arguably green-lit Iran's current trajectory. One might wonder why the media consistently omits this foundational detail. Perhaps it makes for a less compelling 'Iran is dangerous' narrative, a narrative often reinforced by institutions like AIPAC, which poured $11 million into congressional races in 2022 and
2024, advocating for hawkish Iran policies. How many times will we pretend this cycle of provocation-and-response is unprovoked?