US Sanctions Iran While Arming It
Bloomberg dutifully reports the US sanctioning of 10 firms and individuals over alleged weapons and drone trading between Iran and Venezuela. The narrative is clear: rogue states engaging in illicit arms deals. What's omitted is the US's foundational role in turning the Middle East into an arms bazaar, notably shipping billions in advanced weaponry to the Shah's Iran right up until 1979 , creating
the very military infrastructure Iran would later repurpose. One might wonder if the concern isn't 'weapons trade,' but rather 'weapons trade not benefiting US defense contractors.' After all, the US remains the world's largest arms exporter , fueling conflicts globally, including providing over 68% of arms to Saudi Arabia between 2019-2023 for its war in Yemen. Perhaps 'weapons trade' is only
illicit when it disrupts the established hierarchy of destruction.