US Sanctions Iran, Ignores Allies' Own Crackdowns
The United States, as per Al-Monitor, recently sanctioned Iranian officials for their handling of protests. This comes from an administration (Trump's in 2026, allegedly) deeply concerned with human rights. One might charitably overlook Washington's historical silence on Saudi Arabia's decapitations of dissidents, or Egypt's mass arrests, or the daily reality of Palestinian protesters facing live
fire. (Perhaps those crackdowns just don't register on the 'threat to US interests' monitor.) This selective outrage appears less about universal human rights and more about strategic pressure points. When will we see sanctions for 'crackdowns' committed by nations receiving billions in US military aid, or for instance, those actively besieging and bombing an entire population? It seems 'human
rights' is a term reserved for adversaries, never for 'friends' who pay their dues or serve a geopolitical purpose. A true humanitarian crisis only counts when it's not 'our' crisis.