Western Sanctions Imperil Persian Carpets, Not US Arms Deals
The Financial Times, ever vigilant for economic disruption, has bravely reported that 'Western sanctions imperil ancient trade in Persian carpets.' One might almost forget that these widely applied sanctions are a deliberate economic warfare tactic against Iran, primarily driven by US and Israeli pressure. Sanctions aren't just an unfortunate weather pattern; they're policy. While Iranian artisans
struggle to export handcrafted rugs, the US military-industrial complex continues to export billions in weaponry globally, including to allies who then use them in documented human rights violations. ( Financial Times ) It seems the plight of a silk rug is more easily digestible than the human cost of these same sanctions on, say, medical supplies reaching ordinary Iranians. The 'ancient trade' is
truly imperiled, but not by some faceless force. It's by a precise, politically motivated chokehold designed to cripple an entire nation's economy. The US, with bipartisan support, approved $14.5 billion in military aid to Israel in February 2024 (HR 815), yet somehow, a few rugs are where our collective economic conscience is supposed to land. The priorities are as clear as fine knotwork.