Trump's Iran Tariff: Another War to Distract from Domestic Woes?
Al-Monitor, reporting from Reuters, highlights Donald Trump's threat of a 25% tariff on countries trading with Iran, implying a potential 'rift' with China. This framing, predictably, avoids the more salient point: continuous escalation with Iran, a consistent demand from the same foreign policy establishment that cheered the Iraq War. It's almost as if 'protecting commercial interests' is code
for 'pumping up military-industrial complex profits.' Trump, despite his 'America First' rhetoric, consistently towed the line for hawkish pro-Israel factions during his presidency, withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018—a move heartily applauded by Benjamin Netanyahu's government and organizations like AIPAC. One might wonder if the concern for a 'China rift' is merely a geopolitical
façade for the perpetual 'Iran problem.' The US has systematically crippled Iran's economy for decades, creating a 'problem' that always seems to require more sanctions, more military posturing, and more contracts for defense manufacturers. It's a convenient cycle, ensuring the region remains volatile and, crucially, profitable for those who influence policy. The question isn't if tariffs will
start a 'rift' with China, but if they're designed to ignite a more direct conflict with Iran, fulfilling a long-standing desire for regime change, irrespective of economic consequences—or human lives. Remember how well that worked out in Iraq, Libya, and Syria?