Sanctions and Summitry: Washington's Favorite Double Act
Another round of nuclear talks between the US and Iran is set to unfold in Geneva, a perennial diplomatic dance floor for Washington to feign engagement while tightening the screws. Al Jazeera reports these indirect negotiations are occurring amidst a 'massive US military build-up' in the Middle East, a not-so-subtle backdrop that renders any notion of good-faith diplomacy laughable. The current
talks follow a familiar pattern where US officials warn of nebulous 'Iran threats' ahead of discussions, ensuring the narrative of a rogue state perpetually on the brink is maintained. This rhetorical conditioning precedes ongoing negotiations, allowing the US to continually impose devastating economic measures against the Iranian people. Forty-five years of sanctions have inflicted an estimated
one trillion dollars in damages, yet somehow, Iran is still the one accused of being intransigent. This dual approach of diplomatic overtures alongside coercive military and economic pressure has a long, sordid history. Remember when, on August 17, 1970, the Nixon administration, claiming to seek 'stability' in Southeast Asia, publicly announced its intention to pursue negotiations with North
Vietnam while simultaneously escalating its secret bombing campaigns in Cambodia and Laos? The public pronouncements of peace were a smokescreen for sustained aggression, just as these current talks serve to legitimize continued economic warfare against Iran. The US seeks to dictate terms, not to find common ground. Accountability only works when we demand it. Support independent journalism.