John Bolton’s Blueprint for War on Iran

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

In an op-ed before joining Trump’s geopolitical team, Bolton outlined his strategy for eliminating the JCPOA, facilitating war on the country he seeks. More on this below.

The Iran nuclear deal, unanimously adopted by Security Council members, should have resolved the matter of its alleged nuclear ambitions — not extending beyond legitimate purposes all along.

The deal clearly affirmed that Iran’s use of the technology is solely for non-military purposes, its legal right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Regular monitoring by IAEA inspectors affirmed Tehran’s compliance with JCPOA provisions. No evidence suggests it seeks to develop nuclear weapons.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a fatwa, banning the acquisition, development, production, and use of nuclear weapons.

He earlier said the US “created the myth of nuclear weapons in order to claim that the Islamic Republic is a source of threat. But the source of threat is America itself. Today, the greatest source of threat in the world is the regime of America.”

“We are not after nuclear weapons. And this is not because they are telling us not to pursue these things. Rather, we do not want these things for the sake of ourselves and our religion and because reason is telling us not to do so.”

“Lifting sanctions is one of the terms of the (JCPOA) agreement” the Trump regime breached, violating international law.

“There is no one in Iran who does not want the nuclear issue to be resolved through negotiations. What the people of Iran do not want is to accept America’s imposition and bullying.”

The US “knows that we are not after building a nuclear weapon, but they have used it as an excuse to exert pressures on the people of Iran.”

“(I)f we accept what they dictate to us on the nuclear issue, their destructive moves and sanctions will not be stopped and lifted. They will continue to create all sorts of problems for us because they are opposed to the essence of the Revolution.”

The whole world knows that Iran’s nuclear program legitimate with no military component or a desire to have one.

Claims otherwise by the Trump regime are red herring cover for actions it intends to try returning the country to US client state status.

When Washington wants to vilify a nation it marks for regime change, pretexts are easy to create.

If Iran had no nuclear technology, other reasons would be invented to pursue hostile US policies against the country.

Dozens of nations operate nuclear power plants, Iran alone singled out by the US as wanting to develop nukes, despite no evidence suggesting it.

On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif slammed the Trump regime’s call for renegotiating the JCPOA, calling it a “recipe for destroying the” agreement.

If the JCPOA dissolves, it’ll be much easier for Trump regime hardliners to claim Iran is unrestrained to develop nukes, facilitating their efforts to recruit coalition partners of the willing for war on the country — to eliminate a threat that doesn’t exist.

In August 2017, ahead of his appointment as Trump’s national security advisor, John Bolton wrote a detailed op-ed blueprint for “get(ing) out of the Iran nuclear deal,” a roadmap to war, saying the following:

“Trump can and should free America from this execrable deal (sic) at the earliest opportunity.”

Its existence and IAEA affirmation of Tehran’s compliance with its principles makes it harder for Iranophobes to sell the notion of an Iranian threat.

Bolton: “The JCPOA is a threat to US national-security interests, growing more serious by the day (sic).”

“If (Trump) decides to abrogate the JCPOA, a comprehensive plan must be developed and executed to build domestic and international support for the new policy.”

“Like any global campaign, it must be persuasive, thorough, and accurate.”

“Opponents, particularly those who participated in drafting and implementing the JCPOA, will argue strongly against such a decision, contending that it is reckless, ill-advised, and will have negative economic and security consequences.”

“(W)e must explain the grave threat (the JCPOA poses) to the US and our allies, particularly Israel (sic).”

“(A) new ‘reality’ (must) be created” to pull out of the deal.

It must “assure the international community that the US decision will in fact enhance international peace and security (sic).”

Trump “should announce that (he’s) abrogating the JCPOA due to significant Iranian violations (sic), Iran’s unacceptable international conduct more broadly (sic), and because the JCPOA threatens American national-security interests (sic)” — no matter that all of the above are bald-faced Big Lies.

Selling the Trump regime’s arguments “must also demonstrate the linkage between Iran and (nuclear armed) North Korea.”

It must sell the notion that Iran acts “as the world’s central banker for international terrorism (sic)” — how the US and its imperial partners operate, not the Islamic Republic.

Bolton called for “(e)arly, quiet consultations with key” allies, convincing them of the Trump regime’s arguments — based on Big Lies and deception he failed to explain.

He said a “documented strategic case” should be prepared, selling the Trump regime’s scheme.

An “expanded diplomatic (anti-Iran) campaign” should be launched — selling Congress, the US public, and allied nations.

US embassies should be involved, making the Trump regime’s case to host countries. The same goes for enlisting UN support.

Russia and China should be excluded from all of the above discussions, to “be informed just prior to the public announcement…(W)e will move ahead with or without them.”

Convincing the world community of “Iran’s actual underlying intention to develop deliverable nuclear weapons…has never flagged” — no matter how untrue.

Bolton listed the following actions he’d recommend the Trump regime take against Iran as part of its campaign preceding war he’s long called for:

“End all landing and docking rights for all Iranian aircraft and ships at key allied ports.

End all visas for Iranians, including so called ‘scholarly,’ student, sports, or other exchanges.

Demand payment with a set deadline on outstanding US federal-court judgments against Iran for terrorism (sic), including 9/11 (sic).

Announce US support for the democratic Iranian opposition.

Expedite delivery of bunker-buster bombs (to the region).

Announce US support for Kurdish national aspirations, including Kurds in Iran, Iraq, and Syria.

Provide assistance to Balochis, Khuzestan Arabs, Kurds, and others — also to internal resistance among labor unions, students, and women’s groups.

Actively organize opposition to Iranian political objectives in the UN.”

The Trump regime’s anti-Iran campaign should be its “highest diplomatic priority, commanding all necessary time, attention, and resources.”

Bolton never met a sovereign independent country he didn’t want to bomb. He’s been hostile to Iran for decades, falsely claiming the country poses a “threat to our civilization.”

Bolton’s piece was long and detailed, a likely roadmap heading for war on Iran if he gets his way.

Iran’s Zarif stressed that the Trump regime is “plotting for war” on the country.

That’s where things are heading if the White House scheme for regime change isn’t strongly countered.

Sergey Lavrov warned of a “very bad scenario” unfolding against Iran…”We are concerned about what is happening,” he stressed.

It’s reminiscent of events preceding Bush/Cheney’s 2003 aggression on Iraq — based on the pretext of WMDs that didn’t exist.

“All of us know the (deplorable) result,” said Lavrov. “Draw your own conclusion on how (exported US) democracy (worked in the country) over the 16 past years.”

Wherever the US shows up militarily, mass slaughter, destruction, and human misery follow. That’s what Iranians can expect if the Trump regime attacks the country.

Potentially millions of casualties could follow protracted full-scale war — besides boiling over the region more than already and risking possible global war by accident or design if things are pushed too far.

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