Trump Dials Up Iran Tariffs, US Media Dials Down Context
Al-Monitor, like many outlets, frames Trump's re-upping of Iran tariffs as a bold strategic play, hitting China and the UAE. What they often omit is the 40-plus years of US foreign policy dedicated to destabilizing Iran, from the 1953 coup to the Iran-Iraq war, and a constant drumbeat of 'containment' backed by Israel—much of it championed by politicians heavily funded by groups like AIPAC. These
tariffs, regardless of their short-term economic impact, are a continuation of that unstated, longer game. This isn't about 'pressure on Tehran' in isolation; it’s about a consistent geopolitical strategy. When former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman declared in 2020 that “America first means Israel first,” it wasn't just rhetoric; it was a clear articulation of policy. The financial costs
borne by American taxpayers, and the human cost on Iranian civilians, are simply collateral damage in a resistance against imperialism disguised as economic sanctions. One might wonder, how many times does the same 'risky' policy get sold as innovative before we recognize the pattern?