Tag Archives: War with Tehran

Jul 14 2025

Sunday Talks – Senator Lindsey Graham Outlines President Trump’s Plan Against Russia


Posted originally on CTH on July 13, 2025 | Sundance 

Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Richard Blumental appear on CBS with the always dramatic Margaret Brennan to discuss what President Trump is going to do against Russia and President Vladimir Putin tomorrow.  Senator Lindsey Graham is very happy with the plans President Trump will outline tomorrow; very happy.

The action appears to center around the confiscation of Russian assets, Russian central bank reserves held in European bonds. The money belongs to the people of Russia in the form of bonds previously purchased by Russia using a system that many nations follow, including all those nations who buy U.S. treasuries.

If the USA or Europe end up confiscating those funds, the only thing this action would prove is that the western financial system cannot be trusted. Many Nations are already reluctant, some fleeing from EU/U.S treasuries as a result of this threat, and we are seeing changes in the bond rates as a result.  Senator Graham doesn’t care about the strategic financial interests of the USA, he’s more concerned about fighting Russia regardless of long-term ramifications.  WATCH:

[TRANSCRIPT] – MARGARET BRENNAN: Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation. We have a lot to get to this morning. So, let’s begin with Senator Lindsey Graham in Clemson, South Carolina, and Senator Richard Blumenthal in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They both just returned from Europe, where they met with Ukrainian President Zelensky. Good morning to you both, Senators.

SENATOR RICHARD BLUMENTHAL: Good morning.

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Good Morning.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Graham, I want to start with you. Russia is escalating. They’re not ending this war in Ukraine. NATO’s Secretary General is going to be here, in Washington, this week and will be meeting with President Trump, who is, according to our reporting, considering fresh funding for Ukraine. That would be the first time since he’s taken office. What do you know about what is coming?

SEN. GRAHAM: Well, I don’t want to get ahead of the President, but I’m having dinner, along with Senator Blumenthal and other senators, with Secretary General Mark Rutte, tomorrow night. A turning point regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is coming. For months, President Trump has tried to entice Putin to the peace table. He’s put tariffs against countries that allow fentanyl to come in our country. Other bad behavior. He’s left the door open regarding Russia. That door is about to close. Dick and I have got 85 co-sponsors in the United States Senate for congressional sanctions with a sledgehammer available to President Trump to go after Putin’s economy, and all those countries who prop up the Putin war machine. China, India, and Brazil buy oil and petroleum products and other goods from Russia. That’s the money Putin uses to prosecute the war. And this congressional package that we’re looking at would give President Trump the ability to impose 500% tariffs on any country that helps Russia, and props up Putin’s war machine. He can dial it up or down. He can go to 0%, to 500%. He has maximum flexibility. But we’re going after the people who keep Putin in business and additional sanctions on Russia itself. This is truly a sledgehammer available to President Trump to end this war.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Blumenthal, on those sanctions, the President said he expects the Senate to pass this measure you put together. And he described being able to terminate it as totally at my option. It, very respectfully, lets the President do whatever he wants, and decide whether or not to exercise it. I know that has raised some concerns among your fellow Democrats, like Senators Kane and Senator Coons. How do you assure them that this is as tough as you promise?

SEN. BLUMENTHAL: This has to be a critical moment for these sanctions and bringing down this sledgehammer at this moment was emphasized by all of the European allies who were at the meeting that Senator Graham and I attended in Europe. They are absolutely in solidarity. One after another, in that closed-door setting, expressed the view that the sanctions have to be tough and rigorous to change behavior. And so, the waiver language that we will have in this bill is very much alike the provisions that have existed in past, similar measures that give the President the ability to act in the national security, but also provide congressional oversight. And, I think that kind of assurance to my Democratic colleagues is very important. But, what is most important, I think, at this moment, is our unity. Senator Graham and I, Republican and Democrat, coming together, the European leaders with diverse views, also in unity. And we want to make use of the seized assets, again, in a unified way. I think a multi-faceted approach here is the only way to bring Putin to the table, because he’s a thug. He understands only force.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Just to follow up on that, the- the seized assets. There’s what, $300 billion in Europe. There’s about $5 billion here, in the United States. Do you get the sense that the President is going to be willing to tap that, and that the European leaders are going to be willing to seize and use that money?

SEN. BLUMENTHAL: Part of the plan that I think will be sought in this meeting involving the Secretary General is for Ukraine to be given assets by NATO and their purchasing those military assets from the United States. But the seized property, the seized assets from Russia, can be accessed by the Europeans. They are devising a plan to do it, at least for a part of those assets, billions of dollars, and the interest that is derived from them. Very, very important resources for Ukraine. And the $5 billion that the United States has also could be accessed, and I think it’s time to do it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And we’ll be talking to one of the congressmen who put together that law to be able to seize those assets later in the program. Senator Graham, I want to ask you on the battlefield, and when it comes to weapons. CBS’ Jim Laporta has learned a recent defense intelligence assessment shows Ukraine’s shortfall in artillery and in drones will lead to marked Russian territorial gains in 2026, with Russia gaining seven to one firepower superiority by this winter. How can you get them what they need if Congress will not approve, in the House, any new funding? Is it what Senator Blumenthal just laid out?

SEN. GRAHAM: Well, just stay tuned for tomorrow’s announcement. The idea of America selling weapons to help Ukraine is very much in play. We’ve given Ukraine a lot. We give them the money, we give them military aid. We now have a minerals agreement with Ukraine that’s worth trillions of dollars. So, I don’t want to get ahead of the President, but stay tuned about seized assets. The Europeans want to limit the interest on the assets to go to Ukraine. Secretary Bessent wants to go further. Stay tuned about a plan to go after the seized assets more aggressively. Stay tuned for a plan where America will begin to sell to our European allies tremendous amounts of weapons that can benefit Ukraine. Putin has calculated that we would get tired, and Europe would get weary. He made a huge mistake. NATO is bigger and stronger, and we’re more committed to ever to make sure he does not take Ukraine by force. So, Congress is on the verge of passing the most consequential sanction package in the history of the- of the country. It will give President Trump tools he doesn’t have today, a literal sledgehammer. And the big offenders here is China, India, and Brazil. India buys oil from Russia cheap and resells it. That’s despicable. I’ve talked to President Trump. He said last week, it’s time to move. He’s tried to entice Putin to the table. But my goal is to end this war, and the only way you’re going to end this war is to get people who prop up Putin make them choose between the American economy and helping Putin. And you can only have one negotiator, and that’s going to be President Trump, with maximum flexibility to end this war. China, India, and Brazil, you’re about to get hurt big time if you keep helping Putin.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But Senator, respectfully, the President’s rhetoric has changed this week on Russia. He is making clear his patience is very thin. But, he’s got, right now, at his fingertips, just short of $4 billion in presidential drawdown authority. He doesn’t need to ask Congress. He doesn’t need to ask the Europeans for that money. He’s got it if he wants to tap it. Wouldn’t it be a stronger sign if he just sent those weapons or surged them?

SEN. GRAHAM: Well, the $4 billion and not nearly enough. I expect him to exercise that draw-down authority. But the game, regarding Putin’s invasion of Russia, is about to change. I expect, in the coming days, you will see weapons flowing at a record level to help Ukraine defend themselves. I expect, in the coming days, that there will be tariffs and sanctions available to President Trump he has never had before. I expect, in the coming days, more support from Europe regarding the efforts to help Ukraine. Putin made a miscalculation here. For six months, President Trump tried to entice Putin to the table. The attacks have gone up, not down. One of the biggest miscalculations Putin has made is to play Trump. And you just watch, in the coming days and weeks, there’s going to be a massive effort to get Putin to the table. And to those who are helping him, China, buying cheap Russian oil and having no accountability, those days are about over.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Blumenthal, on- on Ukraine, North Korea has been sending troops, as you know, to fight for Russia in Ukraine. Russia’s top diplomat was just meeting with Kim Jong Un. We know that the missile technology Russia is providing them is, sort of, their payment for sending bodies to fight. Is that going to make a measurable difference in the North Korean nuclear program? Is there more of a threat today to the US because of it?

SEN. BLUMENTHAL: The threat of cooperation on that score in sending missile technology to North Korea, as well as support for Iran, that potentially could come from Russia, is a major piece of evidence why we need to be strong with our allies against this axis. It still exists. The success against Iran’s nuclear program ought not to make us complacent about the dangers of proliferating nuclear arms. And, absolutely, yes, we should be coming down stronger, not only on Russia but North Korea, and our plan has to be to deter this kind of nuclear arms cooperation, which is why our working with our allies is so important. As they went around the room, these are the major European leaders, all of them, assembled together last Thursday in Rome, thanking us for being there, Senator Graham and myself, and General Kellogg, representing Trump. This moment of unity must be seized, and the timing is absolutely critical. President Zelensky has been robust and stalwart, but his people are being killed by bombs and drones. Children kidnapped. We need to, really, express the strength of the United States, because only strength can get Putin to the table.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Graham, on another topic here, you have been an advocate for the allies of the United States who were left behind in Afghanistan following that chaotic 2021 withdrawal by the last administration. On Friday, the State Department laid off the personnel in the department that helps place those refugees and other allies in the United States. Two sources with direct knowledge told CBS that there are about 1,400 Afghan allies with connections to the Pentagon, with connections to US intelligence, and they’re stuck there. They don’t know what’s happening next. Can you stop them from being sent back to the Taliban?

SEN. GRAHAM: Yeah, I don’t think there’s any desire by anybody to send people who helped us in Afghanistan back to the Taliban control. That’s not going to happen. As to trimming up the State Department, if you’re telling me we can’t reduce the number of people working in the State Department and still run it effectively, I don’t buy that. We can do both.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, there are some questions about who’s going to actually help prevent them from going back to Afghanistan, which is why I was asking you that if you’re going to advocate on their behalf. Senator Blumenthal, you sit on the Judiciary Committee, I believe. CBS has reported yesterday that the Attorney General, Pam Bondi, fired 20 DOJ employees who worked on the classified documents cases and the January 6 investigations. There are more firings expected. These are career officers and lawyers who don’t pick their assignments. They’re handed out to them. Is there anything that Congress can do to protect some of these civil servants?

SEN. BLUMENTHAL: Margaret, that’s a really important question, because Pam Bondi has so politicized, and weaponized the Department of Justice and now firing these career professionals who have devoted their lives to the Department of Justice, it’s only one facet of the continuing politicization. And, yes, Congress ought to be investigating. The Judiciary Committee ought to begin, right away, its inquiry. But, I’m calling for an Inspector General investigation, not only of these firings, but also of the dropping of a prosecution into the Utah physician who was mid-trial on charges of conspiracy, fraud against the government, in connection with a COVID vaccine scheme, apparently, at the behest of politicians who were deeply angry about the MAGA issue there. And, I believe strongly that now Congress must investigate

MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Graham, do you want to quickly respond to those allegations of politicized handling up at the Justice Department?

SEN. GRAHAM: Yeah, y’all missed a lot. The Justice Department was used to destroy President Trump, his family, and tried to change the election by bringing a bunch of B-S charges against him for years. We’re going to clean that mess up. As to Pam Bondi, I have all the confidence in the world she will do her job. And if somebody has been terminated, they have rights under civil service law to say it was wrongfully done. But, I’m almost amused at the idea that people are now suddenly worried about politicization of the Justice Department, while everybody sat quiet for all those years. Literally, the Justice Department, under Biden, tried to change the election by prosecuting Trump based on a bunch of B-S.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, there are mass firings, which is why I was asking you about them, sir. Senators, thank you for joining us for a bipartisan interview, up until that last section. Appreciate it. Face the Nation will be back in a minute. Stay with us.

[END TRANSCRIPT]

Jul 1 2025

Building the Largest Army in Europe


Posted originally on Jul 1, 2025 by Martin Armstrong 

GermanyUkraineWarPropogandaRecruitment

They say it takes a generation to reshape the way a nation views its military allegiance. Germany dwindled its military capacity significantly after its defeat in the last world war, wearing their loss as a badge of shame. Neither the people nor the government wanted to reinvigorate Germany’s military power after the destructive nation building and expansion under the Third Reich. The times have changed, as they always do, and Germany is now on the defensive. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz envisions forming the largest army in Europe.

“Building up our military is our top priority,” said Merz. “From now on, the federal government will provide the military with as much money as it needs to ensure it becomes Europe’s strongest armed force. We are Europe’s most populous country and Europe’s biggest economy, and nothing less should be expected from us. Our partners not only expect this — they demand it.”

Merz stated that Germany will spend 3.5% of its GDP on military defense over the next decade, placing spending as a percentage on par with the United States. Germany already found a loophole to spend on defense indefinitely after declaring an emergency and deciding to ignore prior military spending limits. The Germany government now plans to spend $400 billion on defense alone through 2029. Simultaneously, the nation will not cut social programs or readjust its overall budget as a constitutional amendment now permits lawmakers to bypass the debt brake and borrow in perpetuity without calculating that spending in the federal budget.

War drummer_clear

Germany believes it is on the right side of history due to its backing of Ukraine, the world’s favorite underdog. A refugee favorite, the nation has allowed 1.2 million Ukrainians into its borders since the war began. The nation hit a record-high for population growth in 2022 due to the number of migrants it has accepted.

Now, Germany provides more funding to Ukraine than any other European nation, and is third globally behind the US and UK. Merz has been an outspoken critic of the United States under Donald Trump due to his reluctance to support Ukraine, and he believes he build an iron-clad military so powerful that the entirety of Europe will no longer need to depend on America for defense.

The Bundeswehr, Germany’s military, currently has around 262,000 troops, but it would like to boldly increase its size with 200,000 additional troops and will spend €100 billion in a special fund to modernize its military. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in May 2024 that he was “convinced” that Germany “needs a form of military conscription.” While there is no conscription, Germans are required to register for a potential draft before they turn 18. By June of 2024, I was informed by multiple personal sources that this registration had been extended to include women. One reliable source informed me that her female family friend was sent a notice to register at 59 years old.

Germany is the core foundation of the entire European economy. As they used to say about America, if it catches a cold, the rest of the world suffers pneumonia. Germany’s trajectory toward war is not driven by a public desire for conflict, but by economic, political, and geopolitical pressures—and especially by its entanglement with the European Union, its energy crisis and the collapse of fiscal discipline across Europe. Net Zero initiatives and cutting off cheap Russian gas drastically hurt the German economy by raising energy costs and stifling its auto market. The entire European Union is collapsing, with Germany at the center as the bloc’s primary financier. The EU needs war to maintain the illusion of control, and Germany must be at the frontlines as the bloc’s richest nation.

Jun 29 2025

HOBBS: “The Mainstream Media In Ireland Is The North Korea Of Europe.”


Posted originally on Rumble By Bannon’s War Room on: June 28, 2025, at 2:00 pm EST

Jun 28 2025

Interview: Terrifying Iran War Prediction (PREPARE FOR THE WORST)


Posted  originally on Jun 28, 2025 by Martin Armstrong 

Jun 27 2025

The NATO Summit


Posted originally on Jun 27, 2025 by Martin Armstrong 

NATO North Atlantic Terror Organization

A source from inside the NATO summit reported that Trump has correctly stated that Article 5 is voluntary, not a binding commitment. He has said that the US will sell and supply weapons, intelligence, and support to NATO and NATO members if a NATO member is attacked by other countries that are not NATO members. That would not include Turkey vs Greece – two NATO members. However, the US itself will not get involved in the actual fighting with boots on the ground. This is what I have been told by some key people close to Trump, so this is from two directions.

As far as Europe’s desire for war against Russia, Trump stated that the US will not get involved on the ground, and they will not stay engaged in prolonged peacemaking indefinitely. He did not rule out supporting the UK’s coalition to lead Europe into war. However, they seem to think that they have two years to prepare and expect World War III by 2027. They realize that this is now a drone war, and they need 2 years to prepare. Everyone is ready for conscription, including Canada, and that includes Turkey, which has the largest standing army in NATO after the US. I had that same idea from the Vienna Peace Conference. What clearly surfaced was that all members have adopted a war footing. There were no pacifists.

Asd far as Israel vs Iran, the consensus seems to be following the Neocon view that the Iranian regime will implode. As always, there is no consideration for what that would look like, and they also appear to fail to comprehend that this is a religious war. The assassination of the Supreme Leader would turn him into a Martyr, and would have untold consequences.

Sooner rather than later

The summit was meant to be mainly about Ukraine and Russia, but was sidetracked heavily by Israel and Iran. Still, with Russia and China supporting Iran, they did not seem even to consider how quickly WW3 could unfold. They are unprepared for war. The question becomes, why should an enemy wait for them to arm themselves? The time to strike would be sooner rather than later.

Jun 24 2025

Neocons Trying to Rule the World


Posted originally on Jun 24, 2025 by Martin Armstrong 

Obama G8 Micky Mouse Crimea Russia

While the Democrats will scream and yell, Obama was a pawn of the Neocons. He wanted to invade Syria and got the Nobel Peace Prize. When the Neocons started the civil war in Ukraine, instructing the UNELECTED interim government installed by Victoria Nuland, who was then directed to attack the Donbas, it was Obama who wanted SWIFT to expel Russia. They refused. Bide did that one. But it was Obama who instructed that Russia should be removed from the G8 in a classic RULE #1 in the Neocon Handbook, to make sure that there could be no peace discussions with Russia, only – WAR, WAR, and more War.

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The Neocon handbook has Rule #1 – DO NOT TALK TO THE ENEMY. This is what we see with all the world leaders refusing to talk with Putin, for that just might lead to peace, and that would stop their agenda. This is why all the European leaders have been stabbing Trump in the back because he broke the rules and engaged in communication with Putin.

Donald_Trump_on_Potentially_Adding_Russia_and_China_to_G7 June 2025

President Donald Trump opened his time at the G7 summit in Canada, lambasting the heads of state, saying that Russia and possibly China should be included in the group. They were squirming in their seats, fearing that they would be scolded when they returned by NATO for daring to listen to him. Trump said, referring to former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:

“The G7 used to be the G8. Barack Obama and a person named Trudeau didn’t want to have Russia in.” 

Trump said that Russia would not have entered the war with Ukraine if it had been allowed back into the group by previous U.S. and world leaders.

“And I would say that was a mistake, because I think you wouldn’t have a war right now if you had Russia in, and you wouldn’t have a war right now if Trump were president four years ago.”

Obama expelled Russia from the G7 in 2014 after it annexed Crimea from Ukraine, following the Neocon Handbook. The Obama Administration was deeply involved in the entire Globalist-Neocon agenda. The mainstream media tries desperately to ignore the connections and the facts.

The Democrats were linked to advising Trudeau to help him get elected. James Carville, the famous “Ragin’ Cajun” Democratic strategist (Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign), did provide advice to Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party. His involvement was primarily during Trudeau’s leadership of the Liberal Party before the 2015 election, specifically around the time of Trudeau’s leadership win in 2013 and the subsequent party rebuilding phase. He provided strategic counsel on messaging, campaign structure, and voter engagement.

Trudeau’s team actively sought advice from Obama’s successful campaign veterans. Figures like David Axelrod (Obama’s chief strategist) and David Plouffe (Obama’s 2008 campaign manager) also met with Trudeau’s key advisors (like Gerald Butts and Katie Telford) in 2013-2014. They shared lessons learned, discussed data-driven campaigning, and offered informal strategic perspectives. Like Carville, they were advisors but did not take PAID positions, so they were not officially running the Canadian campaign. Obama was part of the whole Neocon group, and they saw Trudeau as essential to their objectives.

OBAMA Spied on Trump – Confirmed by Special Counsel

The question of whether the Obama administration “spied” on the Trump campaign during the 2016 election involves complex investigations and significant controversy.  The official findings and investigations established:

Surveillance Did Occur on a Campaign Advisor: The FBI did conduct surveillance on Carter Page, a foreign policy advisor to the Trump campaign. This was done under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), requiring court approval. The FBI sought FISA warrants based on concerns about Page’s prior contacts with Russian intelligence officers and suspicions he might be acting as an agent of a foreign power (Russia). The initial application and renewals were approved by the FISA court. Investigations later found serious flaws in the FISA application process regarding Page. I was in the middle of the Neocon/Democratic attempt to take over Russia and their blackmail of Yeltsin in 2000, trying to install their crony, Boris Berezovsky. I refused to put in $10 billion to fund this takeover.

Special Counsel John Durham Report (May 2023), concluded that the FBI opened the Crossfire Hurricane investigation without sufficient predication based on the raw, unanalyzed information they had at the time. He was highly critical of the FBI’s reliance on the Steele dossier and the handling of the FISA applications. The broader investigation (Crossfire Hurricane) was officially opened due to purported concerns about Russian attempts to interfere in the election and potential links to Trump campaign associates, triggered by information about George Papadopoulos.

The Obama Administration’s efforts to prevent Trump from becoming president were consistent with similar attempts under the Biden Administration. Both were pawns and in cahoots with the Globalist-Neocon Agendas. Obama’s engagement is best described as a counterintelligence investigation into Russian interference falsely targeting  Trump and his campaign associates, but which was significantly marred by serious procedural failures and faulty applications for surveillance warrants against one individual. We have witnessed similar events targeting the disruption of elections in Romania, and they have also sought to undermine Bolsonaro in Brazil. Anyone who stands in the way of the Neocons has been targeted.

Jun 21 2025

Episode 4574: Speedrunning The Iraq War Propaganda Train; Investigate Fox News


Posted originally on Rumble By Bannon’s War Room on: June 20, 2025, at 5:00 pm EST

Jun 21 2025

Jones On Iran: “Regime Change Would Spiral Into A Quagmire Russia And China Are Ready To Exploit.”


Posted originally on Rumble By Bannon’s War Room on: June 20, 2025, at 5:00 pm EST

Jun 21 2025

Warmongers Spent Over A Year Building The Case For Iraq. This Time They’re Trying It In Under 2 Weeks


Posted originally on Rumble By Bannon’s War Room on: June 20, 2025, at 3:00 pm EST

Jun 20 2025

Americans Wary of War – Is Iran the Enemy?


Posted originally on Jun 20, 2025 by Martin Armstrong 

Lose the War

The American people do not want war. The Iranian people do not want war, nor do the Russians, Ukrainians, or Israelis. Politicians lead nations on paths of death and destruction. The military-industrial complex succeeds, the neocons succeed, governments topple one another in search of power—but the people always lose.

Louis XIV War
Pyrrhus of Epirus 319 272 BC c

King Pyrrhus of Epirus, who defeated the Romans at the Battle of Asculum (279 BC) but suffered massive, irreplaceable losses. He reportedly said:

“Another such victory, and I am undone.”

Kings and politicians have been waging wars for thousands of years. They seem to have no problem sending people to their deaths, all for some strange reason that appears to be the same human trait that wages sports, and we have to beat the other team to pound the chest and hold up the trophy. The French King Louis XIV, on his deathbed, lamented that he loved war too much.

savoy-prince

The Prince of Savoy fought in many wars, and even Napoleon regarded him as one of the best generals in history. He fought for many kings and was wounded 13 times. Yet, the Prince of Savoy considered that he was the real father of our Second Amendment. He came to see that standing armies were evil, for they were easily used due to the expense of maintaining them. He came to realize that there should be no armies, and that was the only way to reduce war. His brilliant insight greatly influenced Montesquieu, as it laid the foundation for the right to bear arms, as enshrined in the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that the people have the right to bear arms and form a militia in time of war. The underlying idea was to eliminate standing armies that feed the cycle of war.

Every war is government vs government, but they villanize the entire population of the enemy nation to justify their war games. The GOP may be cheering for war, but I have heard several Trump supporters express disappointment as they voted for the candidate who they presumed to be the least likely to bring America into a global conflict. I repeatedly warned that Trump could only prolong the inevitable cycle of war.

Americans are loudly stating that they do not want war. A new poll conducted by the Economist and YouGov found that only 16% of Americans believe the US should be involved in the Israel-Iran conflict, 24% are undecided, while an overwhelming 60% do not believe this is America’s battle to fight.

YouGov noted that 65% of Democrats, 61% of Independents, and 53% of Republicans are wary of intervening in Iran. Less than a quarter of Americans actually believe Iran’s nuclear program is a serious threat to US national security.

Half of Americans see Iran as an enemy nation, with a quarter labeling them as “unfriendly.” American mainstream media solely portrays the world through the lens of an American. Even Sky News, for example, is drastically different in its coverage compared to Fox. Images of Iranian flags and messages invoke fear and disdain. What most do not realize is that the Iranian people disapprove of the current regime and have been living in deteriorating conditions.

Khameneiyoung

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been in power for 36 years. President Masoud Pezeshkian was elected in 2024 following the death of the previous president, but Khamenei has sole authority over every branch of the government, military, and judiciary.

Iran was a different nation prior to the 1979 revolution. Pre-revolution pictures show women unveiled and living normal lives. Sharia law is now strictly enforced. The hijab is now non-negotiable for girls as young as 12. Half of the population was instantly silenced. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij militia have dismantled any attempted protest or disobedience. There were protests earlier this year but the people cannot speak out without the threat of execution. The major nationwide protests that occurred in 1999, 2009, and 2022 were completely dismantled by Iranian forces. The people live under a complete dictatorship.

Khamenei.Iran_ 1

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei views America as the antithesis of Islamic culture. Relations with the West could expose Iran to cultural and political influence and ideology. His rhetoric has been anti-American for decades, no different from other adversaries, and he demonizes America to justify a stranglehold control over the nation. Ayatollah must exert power to protect his people from a hostile foreign nation. Sound familiar? Every government feeds its people similar lies.

The United States was Iran’s largest supplier of arms prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution. US companies were significantly investing in the Iranian economy. US-Iran trade was blooming and the nations were discussing nuclear cooperation. The CIA did dismantle and install Iran’s government back in the 1950s after all, but that is a topic for another time. Relations deteriorated after the revolution. By 1995, US trade embargos blocked all trade with Iran and have remained in place for the past 30 years with transitory exceptions.

Fast forward to 2025, and Iran is facing a serious economic crisis after years of government mismanagement at the hands of a corrupt dictator. The currency has fallen by 50% in the past year and inflation is expected to soar from 35% to 50% in 2025. Poverty has become widespread as purchasing power has sharply declined. Infrastructure is failing, electricity outages are common, and basic goods are unaffordable. Some blame Western sanctions, while others blame the Iranian leadership for limiting economic growth and isolating Iran from the global markets.

IranBeforAfter

The Iranian people are living under a harsh dictatorship that has resulted in a shrinking economy and a low quality of life. It remains to be seen whether Iran was close to becoming a nuclear power, but the concern did not exist until Israel’s attack on Iran. Is Iran the enemy? The one clear aspect is that the Iranian people are not the enemy, nor are the Russians, Ukrainians, Israelis, Chinese, etc. As Plato wrote in “The Republic” – “Only the dead have seen the end of war.”