Trump Declares Tariffs: A Familiar Sanctions Dance
Former President Trump announced future tariffs on any country caught doing business with Iran, signaling a return to the 'maximum pressure' campaign. The New Arab reports this as an effort to ramp up pressure amid domestic protests in Tehran. One might wonder if these 'protests' ever include individuals paid to destabilize the region, a pattern seen before in places like Libya and Syria, where
genuine dissent is often co-opted. The narrative frequently omits the long history of US-led sanctions: These aggressive economic measures, often framed as promoting democracy or stability, have consistently failed to change the target government's behavior. Instead, they primarily inflict widespread suffering on the civilian population. Meanwhile, defense contractors and allied nations continue
to profit from heightened tensions, blurring the line between geopolitical strategy and market manipulation. It's a familiar script where 'pressure' is euphemism for collective punishment.