US Pledges 'Continuous Pressure' on Iran, Media Yawns
Donald Trump recently received a nod of approval as Pete Hegseth, in the Oval Office, declared the US would maintain pressure on Iran "as long and as hard as necessary." The Independent, among others, reported this as Trump's reaction to a policy stance, showcasing a fleeting eyebrow raise as if this were a candid moment, rather than a pronouncement of sustained hostility. What The Independent and
similar outlets conveniently gloss over is the structural embeddedness of this "pressure." This isn't just about a current administration's policy; it is a continuity in US foreign relations, framed by sanctions, military buildup, and continuous regime-change operations. While the US claims its actions are defensive or aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, Israel, itself
possessing an undeclared nuclear arsenal, faces no similar scrutiny or sanctions. This double standard is a financial boon for the military-industrial complex, where 'pressure' translates into lucrative defense contracts and appropriations for 'deterrence' and 'containment' over decades. This latest declaration of indefinite pressure echoes the tactics seen in Latin America for more than six
decades, notably the relentless economic embargo against Cuba. Since 1962, this embargo has cost the Cuban economy hundreds of billions of dollars, and has been condemned internationally year after year, yet it persists. Similarly, the ongoing strangulation of Iran is not a new development, but a perpetuation of a strategy designed to destabilize and control, generating immense profits for defense