US Media Hostility Toward Iran Increases Possibility of War

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Establishment media are willing US imperial accomplices, marching in lockstep with its wars of aggression against nonbelligerent countries and other hostile actions.

Serving as press agents for wealth, power, and privilege, they long ago abandoned what journalism the way it should be is all about — providing propaganda services, suppressing hard truths on major issues, especially geopolitical ones.

Trump regime extremists are recklessly heading for possible war on Iran based on Big Lies and deception. Truth-telling about the country would destroy their pretext. The same goes for all US wars of aggression waged in the post-WW II era.

Headlines are attention-grabbers. In its latest edition, the NYT headlined: "With a New Threat (sic), Iran Tests the Resolve of the US and Its Allies (sic)," saying:

On Monday, Iran said "it expects within 10 days to (exceed) the limits on how much nuclear fuel it can stockpile" under JCPOA nuclear deal provisions, "open(ing) a new and perilous phase of its confrontation with the West (sic)."

Fact: The Times got it backwards, falsely blamed Iran for US/NATO/Israeli/Saudi confrontational actions.

Pushed by Israel and his regime hardliners, Trump illegally withdrew from the JCPOA. Brussels failed to fulfill its commitments under the deal, betraying Iran.

The Times turned reality on its head, pushing the Big Lie about the Islamic Republic "a year (or more) away from being able to build a (nuclear) weapon" it never sought before and doesn't now, adding:

"Now Mr. Trump faces two immediate challenges when it comes to Iran (sic): making the Persian Gulf safe for oil shipments (sic) and keeping Iran from edging toward the bomb-making capability that incited the crisis of a decade ago (sic). Neither will be easy."

The Times and other establishment media failed to explain the illegality of Trump's JCPOA pullout, his illegal sanctions war, and other hostile actions against nonbelligerent Iran threatening no one.

The US, NATO, Israel, and their imperial partners threaten world peace and humanity's survival because of their hegemonic aims — the major issue of our time unaddressed by Western media.

Bipartisan hardliners in Washington recklessly blame Iran for hostile incidents not a shred of evidence suggests it had anything to do with.

The neocon/CIA house organ Washington Post headlined "Iran threatens to surpass uranium limits as tensions with the US continue to grow," saying:

Trump "said…his goal in Iran is 'no nuclear weapons' (it doesn't seek) and that he does not want war. But events seem to be quickly moving in the opposite directions on both counts" — clearly not so about Iran seeking nukes, ominously possible about war.

Wall Street Journal editors falsely blamed Iran for the Gulf of Oman and May regional incidents it had nothing to do with, along with falsely claiming its ruling authorities are responsible for increased regional tensions — hostile Trump regime rhetoric and actions entirely to blame for what's going on.

"Iran hopes to scare the world, and especially Europe (sic)," Journal editors roared, part of their anti-Iran drumbeat, adding:

"Iran's high-seas terrorism against oil tankers (sic) can't be tolerated without inviting more such intimidation (sic)." 

"And if Iran is announcing its breakout on enriched uranium from the nuclear deal, the safe assumption is that it is doing even more in secret beyond the reach of International Atomic Energy Agency inspections (sic)."

All of the above remarks are bald-faced Big Lies, a specialty of right-wing extremist Journal editors, supporting US wars of aggression, opposing world peace and stability. 

Calling Iran "a bad actor" belies its nonbelligerent/good neighbor agenda, its respect for international laws, norms, and standards — polar opposite how the US, NATO, Israel, and their imperial partners operate.

Are Trump regime hardliners heading for war on Iran? What's unthinkable is ominously possible.

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My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

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