By Stephen Lendman

US President Donald Trump and hardline extremists running his geopolitical agenda suffered two humiliating defeats in their war by other means on nonbelligerent Iran.

The nation has been targeted for regime change since its 1979 Islamic Revolution, ending a generation of US-installed fascist dictatorship, what Iranians want no part of returning — wanting their country to remain sovereign and independent of US imperial control.

Since taking office in January 2017, Trump and his hardline geopolitical team have been waging all out war on Iran by other means, risking things possibly turning hot.

For months, pressure and bullying by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton failed (so far at least) to reach their goal of at least 20 anti-Iran Persian Gulf partners.

With only token support from Britain and Israel, they achieved more of a coalition of the unwilling than willing, the world community against their hostile anti-Iran agenda.

Most nations are concerned that another regional conflict could erupt, something potentially much more serious than ongoing US wars of aggression.

On July 4, Britain unlawfully seized Iran’s Grace 1 super-tanker in international waters, an act of high seas piracy, a flagrant UN Convention for the Law of the Sea breach — following White House orders, likely from Iranophobe John Bolton.

Despite pressure from the Trump regime’s justice department, Gibraltar’s Supreme Court ordered the vessel’s release, letting it sail to its intended destination.

On Thursday, the Gibraltar Chronicle broadsheet reported that the Trump regime sought to seize the vessel.

Following its release, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted the following:

“Having failed to accomplish its objectives through its Economic Terrorism — including depriving cancer patients of medicine — the US attempted to abuse the legal system to steal our property on the high seas.”

“This piracy attempt is indicative of (its) contempt for the law.”

Having failed to accomplish its objectives through its #EconomicTerrorism—including depriving cancer patients of medicine— the US attempted to abuse the legal system to steal our property on the high seas.



This piracy attempt is indicative of Trump admin's contempt for the law. — Javad Zarif (@JZarif) August 15, 2019

By letter to Britain’s foreign office, Zarif “protested the illegal detention of Grace1, repeated public statements about its destination, and made it crystal clear that EU sanctions do NOT apply to Iran—a position shared by most Europeans.”

“Nothing changes the fact: detention was 100% unlawful,” he stressed.

Spain’s Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said Britain’s Grace 1 seizure responded to a US request.

Madrid doesn’t recognize Gibraltar and its waters as UK territory, the seizure affecting its sovereignty.

Following the pirate act, Bolton tweeted: “Excellent news: UK has detained the supertanker Grace I laden with Iranian oil bound for Syria in violation of EU sanctions” — illegal under international law Bolton failed to explain, adding:

“America & our allies will continue to prevent…Tehran & Damascus from profiting off this illicit trade (sic).”

There’s nothing “illicit” about legitimate bilateral trade relations. Hostile US/UK actions against Iran, Syria, and other countries are flagrantly illegal.

The Islamic Republic of Iran never initiated hostile actions against another nation throughout its 40-year history, but reserves the right to respond appropriately to unlawful actions against its sovereign rights.

The US, Britain, and imperial allies are partnered against world peace, stability, and the rule of law. They’re notably hostile toward the fundamental rights of nations on the US target list for regime change.

Britain’s unlawful seizure of Iran’s tanker was a provocative act, partnered against the Islamic Republic’s sovereign rights in cahoots with the US, especially since neocon hardliner Boris Johnson replaced Theresa May as prime minister.

On Thursday, the Trump regime’s State Department threatened “serious consequences for any individuals associated with the Grace I.”

Will Pompeo and Bolton escalate war on Iran by other means? Will they order the unlawful seizures of Iranian tankers proceeding lawfully toward intended destinations?

Will they stage a major Persian Gulf false flag, perhaps involving US or allied casualties, wrongfully blamed on Iran?

Are they pushing the envelope recklessly toward hot war on the country?

The most effective deterrent against this happening is world community opposition and likely Pentagon unease about attacking a nation able to hit back hard against an aggressor.

When the US goes to war, it seeks numerous coalition partners.

Failure to enlist them against Iran may defeat the Trump regime’s aim to confront the country belligerently if this is what hardliners Pompeo and Bolton have in mind.

Stephen Lendman, born in 1934 in Boston, started writing on major world and national issues began in summer 2005. In early 2007, radio hosting followed. Lendman now hosts the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network three times weekly. Distinguished guests are featured. Listen live or archived. Major world and national issues are discussed. Lendman is a 2008 Project Censored winner and 2011 Mexican Journalists Club international journalism award recipient.

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

(The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Press TV.)