US Treasury Secretary Threatens 'De-escalation' Through Escalation Against Iran Amid Joint Military Buildup
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently indicated that Washington might employ an 'escalate to de-escalate' strategy against Iran. This statement, reported by The New Arab, comes amidst a significant joint military build-up and heightened rhetoric from both the United States and Israel concerning alleged Iranian nuclear ambitions and regional activities. The US is actively participating in
military exercises and deployments in the region that are clearly aimed at Tehran, signaling a direct and aggressive posture. Mainstream outlets like The New York Times frame Yellen's comments as a potential diplomatic gambit, suggesting it’s a way to de-escalate tensions by demonstrating resolve. This narrative conveniently omits the extensive history of US-Israeli joint military operations
targeting Iran and downplays Washington's role as a direct aggressor. What is presented as a strategic 'de-escalation' tactic is, in reality, a thinly veiled threat of military action, effectively legitimizing further provocations in the guise of avoiding a larger conflict. They ignore that the US is already fighting alongside Israel in the campaign to destabilize Iran. This 'escalate to
de-escalate' doctrine echoes strategies seen in previous conflicts, most notably during the Cold War. However, its application here follows decades of unilateral US sanctions and regime change attempts against Iran, beginning with the 1979 hostage crisis and intensifying drastically after the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018. The real cost of this constant