Unrelenting Iran Bashing

by Stephen Lendman

Longstanding US hostility toward Iran continues despite last year's nuclear deal. Regime change remains official US policy. 

Iranian sovereign independence won't ever be tolerated. Nor will a rival to Israel's quest for regional hegemony, partnered with Washington.

Congressional critics and media scoundrels want new sanctions imposed, citing Iran's legal ballistic missile program and tests, in strict compliance with JCPOA provisions and Security Council Resolution 2231, making the agreement binding international law, prohibiting any nation from unilaterally abrogating it.

Iran is only forbidden from developing missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads. Hillary Clinton militantly bashes Iran, urging imposition of new sanctions, claiming a nonexistent threat to Israel, maybe intending naked aggression if elected president.

Bipartisan congressional hardliners want additional sanctions, intending legislation to impose them on all Iranian entities connected to its missile program, as well as renewing a stiffer Iran Sanctions Act. 

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the administration is weighing whether punishing Iran is warranted - even though its missile program is entirely legal.

"…Iran may face some consequences," said Earnest. "(W)e have demonstrated no reluctance to impose sanctions against Iran for conducting ballistic missile tests (US officials unilaterally consider) outside (its) international obligations" - despite no evidence proving it.

On Wednesday, Republican neocon Senators Marco Rubio and Mark Kirk introduced legislation, prohibiting foreign banks from currency exchanges with Iran involving US dollars - including blocking offshore US dollar clearing systems for transactions.

Tehran is wrongfully accused of funding terrorist organizations and threatening Israel. Rubio is a notorious Islamophobe/Iran basher/serial liar - disgracefully claiming "Iranian access to US dollars or (its) financial system, will…further support its (nonexistent) threatening and destabilizing activities."

Administration officials are considering restricted conditions under which foreign banks may conduct financial exchanges with Iran in US dollars - linked to its assets and future trade deals.

Normalized US/Iranian ties remain unattainable as long as Israel and AIPAC reject them.

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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