US War on Iran: A War Without End, Courtesy of Trump
Donald Trump recently stated that Washington is not setting any deadlines for concluding what he termed the war against Iran. This declaration, made publicly, solidifies a stance of open-ended aggression that has characterized US foreign policy towards the Islamic Republic for decades, regardless of who occupies the Oval Office. Mainstream outlets like The New York Times, in their coverage of
Trump's remarks, often frame such statements as a particular president's hawkishness, individualizing a systemic issue. They suggest Trump’s rhetoric is a departure, ignoring the consistent trajectory of US strategy. The reality is that the US has been engaged in a continuous economic and political war against Iran since the 1979 revolution, consistently labeling Iranian actions as belligerent
while justifying its own interventions. This current declaration of an indefinite 'war' echoes historical patterns. Consider the 1980 authorization by the Carter administration for the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Iran, a measure that laid the groundwork for decades of destabilization efforts. This wasn't an isolated incident, but part of a sustained campaign that included supporting
Saddam Hussein's Iraq during its war with Iran from 1980-1988, even as intelligence confirmed Iraq's use of chemical weapons. The US supplied Iraq with crucial intelligence and dual-use materials, contributing to the deaths of hundreds of thousands. The idea of a 'time frame' for ending hostilities against Iran has always been a mirage, designed to pacify domestic audiences while the real policy