The Great Satan

by Stephen Lendman

No nation deserves this designation more than America - the world's leading global menace. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is right condemning it. US policies speak for themselves. They include:

waging endless direct and proxy wars of aggression against invented enemies threatening no one;

risking WW III by recklessly challenging Russia and China;

imposing illegal sanctions on targeted countries unilaterally or jointly with other Western nations bullied to go along (what only the Security Council is authorized to do);

serving monied interests exclusively at the expense of popular ones;

allying with many of the world's most ruthless despots;

partnering with Israeli wars of aggression as well as supporting occupation harshness - by supplying billions of dollars in annual (mostly) military aid and much more;

governing under a homeland police state apparatus targeting Muslims, poor Blacks, Latino immigrants, environmental and animal rights activists, whistleblowers exposing government wrongdoing, as well as anyone challenging ruthless policies no one should accept.

Millions of corpses attest to America's barbarity - a rogue state threatening world peace.

Consummation of a nuclear deal with Iran left Washington's longstanding hostility unchanged - notably its regime change policy by color revolution or war.

On Saturday, Khamenei said Iran's position toward America remains unchanged. Resolving nuclear issues is unrelated to others.

As long as US Middle East policies remain aggressive, they'll be no normalized dialogue. How can there be with a nation wanting Iranian sovereignty replaced with US-controlled puppet governance?

Tenuous success in Vienna belies longstanding American anti-Iranian hostility. Tehran's foreign policy remains unchanged, Khamenei explained, saying:

"Whether the (nuclear) deal is approved or disapproved, we will never stop supporting our friends in the region and the people of Palestine, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain and Lebanon."

"Even after this deal our policy towards the arrogant US will not change. We have repeatedly said we don't negotiate with the US on regional or international affairs, not even on bilateral issues."

"There are some exceptions like the nuclear program that we negotiated…to serve our interests. US policies in the region are diametrically opposed (to) Iran's policies."

Khamenei understands US duplicity in dealings with all other nations. It can't be trusted. It's word isn't its bond.

It pledges one thing and does another. It reinterprets bilateral and multilateral deals post facto - violating their letter and spirit. It demands other countries conform to its rules - diktat policies with no deviations, ones serving US interests at the expense of others.

The whole world knows Iran's nuclear program is peaceful - fully observing Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) provisions. Nothing suggests otherwise - no independently verifiable proof, fabricated claims alone at times.

"The Americans (lied) say(ing) they stopped Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon," said Khamenei. "They know it's not true."

"We had a fatwa declaring nuclear weapons to be religiously forbidden under Islamic law. It had nothing to do with the nuclear talks."

"The Islamic Republic will never bow to the enemy's excessive demands." Khamenei blasted Washington's support for the "Zionist, terrorist and infanticidal" Israeli regime."

Imperial "arrogan(ce)" defines US policy. Iran will continue supporting its regional allies. It values mutually cooperative relations with Russia, China and other countries.

Obama's post-Vienna remarks remained belligerent - saying he retains the same options as before, including war. Illegal non-nuclear sanctions remain in place - justified by baseless claims about Iranian support for terrorism, wanting Israel destroyed, its legitimate ballistic missile program and alleged human rights violations.

Iranian President Hassan Rohani expects "closer relations" with neighboring countries following consummation of the nuclear deal. He believes regional trade and beyond will be boosted. He welcomed positive comments from Qatar and Pakistan.

Israel is a nuclear outlaw. Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby wants it held accountable for its secret radiological weapons development and production program, saying:

"It's time for the international community...to stop its policy of double standards and to undertake its responsibilities by pressuring Israel to join the Non-Proliferation agreement (NPT)…"

It won't acknowledge its sophisticated nuclear arsenal and delivery capability. It prohibits inspections while demanding Iran give monitors free access to all its facilities nationwide, including non-nuclear ones.

Consummation of Iran nuclear talks didn't improve chances for world peace. Things are as shaky as ever.

Washington can renege on Vienna terms by baselessly claiming Iranian violations - no proof needed, fabricated claims alone are enough.

Anti-Sino/Russian policy persists threatening possible global war. America's longstanding global hegemony project requires marginalizing, weakening, isolating and containing its two major rivals. World peace hangs in the balance.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

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

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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