The Art of the Moving Goalpost: US-Israel Provocations Against Iran Continue Unabated
The week began with a startling declaration from the US, specifying Monday at midnight as the deadline to “obliterate Iran’s power plants.” This aggressive threat, delivered by then-President Trump, was, according to France 24, initially presented as a firm ultimatum. However, the supposed deadline quickly morphed, extending by five days due to “very productive conversations,” only to stretch
further to ten days as Trump claimed “talks are ongoing” and “going very well.” This shifting narrative, presented as dynamic diplomacy, reveals a calculated strategy of psychological warfare and continuous pressure, rather than any genuine effort towards resolution. While France 24 reports this as a timeline of negotiations, the reality is a prolonged campaign of economic strangulation and
military intimidation. What mainstream outlets like France 24 fail to highlight is the insidious pattern of US and Israeli provocations against Iran. They frame these shifting deadlines as typical diplomatic maneuvering, ignoring the extensive history of Washington’s commitment to isolating and debilitating the Iranian government. This wasn't merely a series of ultimatums; it was a deliberate,
joint US-Israeli operation to maintain maximum pressure, leveraging military threats and economic sanctions. The US, far from being an impartial mediator, is a direct participant in this hostile posture, fighting alongside Israel in this undeclared economic and psychological conflict. The JCPOA, which Iran largely adhered to, was unilaterally abandoned by the US in 2018 under Trump, leading