Trump Regime’s Middle East Saber Rattling
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Hardline extremists Pompeo and Bolton in charge of Trump’s geopolitical agenda are itching for greater wars than already — their actions a threat to world peace and stability.
On Sunday, Bolton said the following:
“In response to a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings (sic), the United States is deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to the US Central Command region to send a clear and unmistakable message to (Iran) that any attack on United States interests or on those of our allies will be met with unrelenting force.”
At least four nuclear-capable B-52 bombers will be sent to the region, according to a Pentagon statement.
Spokesman Navy Captain Bill Urban said USCENTCOM commander General Kenneth McKenzie requested the deployment “to protect US forces and interests in the region and to deter any aggression” — despite no existing threats, not from Iran or any other regional countries.
“We continue to closely monitor Iranian activities, (including its) military, and we are well postured to defend US forces and interests,” Urban added.
Acting US war secretary Patrick Shanahan turned truth on its head, claiming the Islamic Republic poses “a credible threat” to US regional forces and interests.
Deployment of US naval and aerial forces has nothing to do with deterring regional threats, everything to do with anti-Iran saber rattling, perhaps with US naked aggression against the country in mind — not likely now, very possible at a later time.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) spokesman Keivan Khosravi called the Trump regime’s ordered deployments “psychological warfare.”
Days earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the Islamic Republic seeks regional peace and stability.
“We have been very clear that we have no interest in escalation,” he stressed, adding: “We have been clear that the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz are our lifeline. We depend on them for our livelihood, and we want them safe, secure, and free for navigation of all countries, including Iran.”
“As we have stated before, Iran won’t permit the US to threaten the Persian Gulf.” Separately, Iranian military commander General Mohammad Baqeri said the following:
“As oil and commodities of other countries are passing through the Strait of Hormuz, ours are also moving through it,” adding:
Iran “will definitely confront anyone who attempts to destabilize the Strait of Hormuz, and if our crude is not to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, others’ (crude) will not pass either.”
“This does not mean (that Iran’s military intends to) close the Strait of Hormuz. We do not intend to shut it unless the enemies’ hostile acts will leave us with no other option. We will be fully capable of closing it on that day.”
A Wall Street Journal propaganda piece cited Big Lies, claiming “US intelligence showed that Iran has made plans to target US forces in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East (sic), triggering a decision to reinforce the American military presence in the region in an effort to deter any possible moves by Tehran, US officials said…”
The Journal failed to explain that no Iranian threat exists, not now or earlier. No intelligence or other information suggests it.
On a visit to Baghdad to visit the US-installed puppet regime, Pompeo falsely called Iran “a growing regional threat.”
He lied saying US officials have “information that indicates Iran is escalating their activity.” No such “information” exists.
The Journal cited an unnamed senior State Department official claiming the Trump regime has “high confidence that there was more than one (Iranian) attack planned” — a bald-faced Big Lie.
Of concern is whether Trump regime hardliners intend launching a false flag regional attack to wrongfully blame Iran.
False flags are a US tradition, dating from the mid-19th century, 9/11 the mother of them all, used to launch multiple wars of aggression.
Is Iran next on the US target list along with Venezuela, regime change planned for both nations. The US seeks control over their vast oil and gas reserves, along with wanting their sovereign independence eliminated.
Reportedly, Israel’s Mossad invented the fabricated Iranian threat, passing on the fake news to US officials.
In late April, Israeli national security advisor Meir Ben Shabbat met with John Bolton at the White House. The fake news plot may have been hatched at the time, an Israeli statement saying:
“It is…unclear…what the Iranians are trying to do and how they are planning to do it (sic), but it is clear to us that the Iranian temperature is on the rise as a result of the growing US pressure campaign against them (sic), and they are considering retaliating against US interests in the Gulf (sic).”
The above statement is utter rubbish. Not a shred of evidence supports it. No Iranian threat exists, no hostile retaliatory actions planned.
Statements by Iranian government and military officials are clear when made. The Islamic Republic threatens no one — not the US, Israel or any other countries.
At the same time, it’s prepared to defend its security and sovereign rights if threatened or attacked — the fundamental right of all nations under the UN Charter and other international law.
Iran is the Middle East’s leading proponent of peace and stability — Israel, the US, and their rogue partners the key regional and global menace.
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