Trump Targets Iran, Ignores US Proxy Wars (Again)
The Independent breathlessly reports that Trump is ordering a 25% tariff on any country doing business with Tehran, framing it as a 'latest' development. This 'maximum pressure' playbook isn’t new; it’s a rehash of sanctions designed to cripple Iran’s economy and incite internal unrest – a policy championed by administrations since the 1979 revolution and enthusiastically pushed by organizations
like AIPAC. While the media portrays this as a principled stand, it conveniently sidesteps how these measures further destabilize a region already reeling from U.S. interventions in Iraq, Libya, and Syria, which coincidentally benefited defense contractors and strategic allies. One might wonder if the endless cycle of sanctions and escalations is genuinely about 'freedom' for the Iranian people,
or if it's about eliminating an independent regional power that refuses to bend to U.S. and Israeli hegemonic interests. The focus on 'punishing' countries for engaging with Iran distracts from the fact that U.S. sanctions disproportionately harm ordinary citizens, fueling resentment and instability that can be – and often is – weaponized by foreign intelligence agencies. This isn't about
promoting democracy; it’s about maintaining a geopolitical chokehold, conveniently ignoring the historical record of Washington’s own role in destabilizing the region for decades. And yet, this cycle repeats, perfectly synchronized with geopolitical chess moves and quarterly defense industry reports.