Biden Continues Maximum Pressure on Iran

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

Ignore political rhetoric, especially promises when made — notably by the duplicitous West never to be trusted.

Hegemon USA is most untrustworthy of all.

It's one of many signs of its decadence, an empire in decline because of its arrogance, endless wars on humanity, and refusal to change its wicked ways.

Follow its policies alone. As expected, whenever transition of power occurs in Washington, dirty business as usual continues like always before.

Since Biden replaced Trump on January 20 by electoral fraud, US war on humanity at home and abroad continues with signs of possibly worsening ahead.

Biden and hardliners surrounding him one-sidedly support privileged interests at the expense of ordinary people at home and abroad — while pretending otherwise. 

They're militantly hostile toward all nations free from US control.

Are they plotting escalation of inherited wars by hot and other means?

There's virtually no prospect of improving ties with nations unwilling to bend to Washington's will — just the opposite.

Based on Biden regime demands on Iran to be rejected, not accepted, it's clear that he has no intention of rejoining the JCPOA nuclear deal as was unanimously affirmed by Security Council Res. 2231.

What's binding international and constitutional law across the board, US ruling authorities consistently ignore, operating by their own rules alone.

A separate article called the JCPOA dead because both right wings of the US war party refuse to observe its provisions.

Biden continues Trump's failed maximum pressure on Iran.

Its agenda includes refusal to lift illegally imposed sanctions.

Unrelated to an Iranian threat that doesn't exist, they're all about wanting its economy crushed, its people immiserated, ideally suffocated into submission to a higher authority in Washington.

The myth of covert Iranian efforts to develop nuclear weapons persists — despite no evidence ever suggesting what its ruling authorities long ago banned.

Yet on Sunday, Blinken falsely suggested otherwise — again.

Calling continuation of maximum pressure on Iran "diplomacy," he claimed that this "is the best path to ensuring that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon (sic)."

Like his predecessor Pompeo, he lied.

The long ago debunked canard refuses to die.

On Monday, Netanyahu kept it alive with his own long ago discredited litany of bald-faced Big Lies.

He lied calling Iran "an existential threat" — what applies to apartheid Israel and his own extremist regime, not the Islamic Republic.

Ignoring Jewish state WMDs that include nukes, chemical, biological and other banned weapons, he lied referring to the Islamic Republic as "nuclear Iran."

Time and again, he invented his own reality about Iran. Claiming its ruling authorities aim to develop nukes is never supported by evidence because there is none.

The same goes for US hardliners. Hostile to Iran for its sovereign independence, baseless accusations and allegations are invented to vilify the nation and its leadership.

In response to unacceptable Biden regime policies toward Iran that show no signs of changing, Islamic Republic Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the following:

The new US regime is "going down the same wrong path" as its predecessor.

"There is no difference between what('s) happen(ing) today and what was before January 20." 

"The same maximum pressure crime, committed through cruel sanctions against the Iranian people and disregarding international law, continues today."

Unacceptable Biden regime hostility toward Iran "should bring a stain of disgrace to those who based their election campaign on distancing themselves from (Trump's) bullying policies."

Based on what's unfolding now, candidate Biden lied last year, saying the following:

"I will offer Tehran a credible path back to diplomacy (sic)." 

"If Iran returns to strict compliance with the nuclear deal (sic), the United States would rejoin the agreement (sic)."

Since taking office, the above pledge was breached straightaway — with no signs of intended compliance with JCPOA obligations.

Separately last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif tweeted:

"Biden (regime) officials keep talking about Iran's compliance with JCPOA. In what capacity?" 

US ceased participation in May 2018, violated JCPOA & punished those complying with UN resolution." 

"As of today, US remains in EXACTLY same position." 

"Before spouting off, COMPLY."

The prospect is virtually nil, made clear by Biden regime actions since taking office.

While the possibility of endless US war on Iran by other means becoming hot is slim, there's risk of it happening by accident or design remain — because of US rage for unchallenged global dominance.

Hegemon USA tolerates no nations free from its control, wanting them transformed into pro-Western vassal states.

Both belligerent wings of the US war party pursue the same geopolitical agenda.

Looking ahead, there's virtually no prospect for Biden regime hardliners to soften their hostile actions against Iran.

A Final Comment

Iran continues to observe JCPOA provisions — in stark contrast to Washington's illegal abandonment of the agreement and noncompliance by E3 countries.

Iran's UN envoy Majid Takht-Ravanchi explained the following:

"According to Article 36, when a member of the JCPOA commits a clear and serious violation, Iran is given the authority not to fulfill all or some of its obligations, and we chose the second option."

If Biden and his E3 counterparts return to compliance with their JCPOA obligations, Iran will relinquish its Article 36 option as a show of good faith.

Time and again, the US and its Western partners never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity to do the right thing.

Chances of them returning to JCPOA compliance are slim to none — with emphasis on the latter.

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

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