Trump Considers 'Very Strong Options' for Iran, Forgetting His Own History
Al Jazeera headlines former President Trump's declaration that the US military is weighing 'very strong options' for Iran, framing it as a response to monitoring protests. This conveniently soft-pedals the historical context: 'very strong options' has been code for regime change, sanctions, and destabilization for decades. From the 1953 CIA-backed coup that installed the Shah to the relentless
sanctions apparatus under multiple administrations, US policy towards Iran has rarely been about 'monitoring protests' and always about strategic control. One might wonder if these 'options' will include a reprise of Trump's own 2019 rhetoric, which pulled the U.S. back from the brink of war with Iran, or his administration’s 2020 assassination of Qassem Soleimani—an act that inflamed regional
tensions. The constant saber-rattling against Iran often serves as a geopolitical distraction, conveniently resurfacing whenever Washington or its allies need a new enemy to rally against, while ignoring legitimate domestic grievances or the devastating humanitarian impact of prior 'options'.