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Fact-Checking Trump on Iran

Written by Subject: Trump Administration

Fact-Checking Trump on Iran

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

Virtually all politicians lie. Trump exceeds the worst of his predecessors, operating in bad faith, never to be trusted. 

Most everything he says lacks credibility, notably claims about serving the interests of ordinary Americans he disdains and Iran.

Claiming he authorized Iranian General Soleimani's assassination because of an "imminent threat" he posed was a bald-faced Big Lie.

Poling data discussed in a previous article shows most Americans believe his killing made the US less safe.

Trump's praise for a likely US/UK orchestrated anti-government protest in Tehran last weekend over the Ukraine airliner's downing ignored millions of Iranians publicly mourning Soleimani's assassination.

Iranian authorities estimated around 25 million turned out in Tehran and other cities — paying homage to an anti-terrorism freedom fighter, killing him an act of US state-sponsored terrorism, the vast majority of Iranians enraged at the Trump regime for what happened, its ruling authorities likely never to forgive or forget.

Trump lied to Iranians, tweeting: "I've stood with you since the beginning of my presidency, and my (regime) will continue to stand with you (sic)."

He abandoned the landmark JCPOA nuclear deal and pressured Britain, France and Germany to renege on their mandated obligations, effectively killing the deal.

He's waging economic terrorism on Iran to cause human misery, Soleimani's assassination an act of hot war — the supreme crime against peace.

He ignored hundreds of Shaihd Beheshti University students in Tehran demonstrating against last weekend's staged anti-government protest over the downing of Ukraine Airlines Flight 752, a tragic error, not a criminal act.

He greatly underestimated damage to US bases in Iraq that were struck by Iranian missiles in retaliation for Soleimani's assassination.

According to a Danish journalist who interviewed military personnel from his country stationed at the struck Ein Al-Assad base, damage was "much greater" than phony Trump claims otherwise.

One soldier in a bunker during the incident said the following after it happened:

"Suddenly, the first wave came. That's what I call it. Nine rockets at barely a ton each," adding: 

"It cannot be described. I've never experienced anything like it, and I hope to never come to it again."

"The first strikes were so severe that we were sure we were going to a golden desert and nothing would be left." 

"We were really surprised that everything hadn't fallen on top of our heads." 

"I would estimate that the nearest rocket hit 300 yards from us, and as we walked around afterwards, there were halves of helicopters, and there were holes so big that you could park a van in them." 

Damage was "much greater than the US admitted, with even helicopters being destroyed and not just several buildings damaged and hitting open territory in the camp."

Trump lied numerous times about the landmark JCPOA, years of negotiations preceding its adoption by P5+1 countries and the Security Council, making it binding international and US constitutional law.

He falsely called it a "horrible one-sided deal (that) didn't bring calm…didn't bring peace…never will…expires shortly anyway, and gives Iran a clear and quick path to nuclear breakout" — all of the above bald-faced Big Lies.

Trump doesn't just distort facts. He systematically and repeatedly ignores them.

Time and again, Iran stressed its opposition to nuclear weapons, wanting them eliminated everywhere, prohibiting their development internally.

Annual US intelligence community reports of alleged world threats explain that no evidence suggests Iranian involvement or interest in developing or producing nuclear weapons.

Iran is the world's most heavily monitored country. Reports by the IAEA nuclear watchdog confirm its compliance with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and JCPOA.

A 2018 Congressional Research Service report said "the IAEA will monitor the stored Iranian centrifuges and related infrastructure." 

"During this time, Iran will also permit the IAEA 'daily access' to 'relevant buildings.' "

"For 20 years, Tehran will allow the agency to verify Iran's inventory of certain centrifuge components and the manufacturing facilities for such components." 

"Iran is to allow the IAEA to monitor the country's uranium mills for 25 years and to monitor Iran's plant for producing heavy water."

"In addition to the restrictions on activities related to fissile material production, the JCPOA indefinitely prohibits Iranian 'activities which could contribute to the design and development of a nuclear explosive device,' including research and diagnostic activities."

According to Arms Control Association executive director Daryl Kimball:

Trump and others in his regime are "wrong" about Iran.

"The JCPOA created important uranium and uranium enrichment-related barriers that prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons for more than 15 years, and some other limitations last longer and some indefinitely," adding:  

"But with the impulsive decision by Trump to withdraw from the agreement and violate US commitments under the deal, he has prompted Iran to remove these barriers far sooner."

No so-called breakout time for Iran to produce a bomb exists in all practicality because its ruling authority banned their development.

In contrast, Israel is nuclear armed and dangerous. It maintains illegal stockpiles of banned chemical and biological weapons.

It permits no IAEA or other inspectors anywhere near its facilities — the US, its media, and world community doing nothing to challenge the threat posed by Jewish state arsenals of banned weapons of mass destruction.

Time and again, Trump and regime hardliners surrounding him falsely accuse Iran of regional terrorism — a US, NATO, Israeli speciality.

DJT turned truth on its head, falsely claiming the "Iran nuclear deal signed in 2013 (sic) (gave Tehran) $150 billion, not to mention $1.8 billion in cash (sic)," adding:

"Iran went on a terror spree, funded by the money from the deal, and created hell in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iraq (sic)." 

"The missiles fired last night at (US bases in Iraq) were paid for with the funds made available by" Obama (sic)."

All of the above is pure rubbish. The JCPOA had nothing to do with giving Iran billions of dollars.

When the agreement was consummated, Iran regained access to assets that were improperly frozen abroad, its own money.

The JCPOA was concluded on July 14, 2015, implemented on January 16, 2016.

The Islamic Republic is at peace with its neighbors, polar opposite how the US and its imperial partners operate in the region.

Hostile Trump regime actions created a state of war with Iran. Killing Soleimani made US troops persona non grata in Iran and elsewhere regionally.

How much further hardliners surrounding Trump intend manipulating him to push the envelope closer to possible confrontation with Iran is unknown.

Neither country wants war. It's possible by accident or design because of US rage to dominate the Middle East and planet earth — brute force its favored strategy.

VISIT MY WEBSITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

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

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

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