"It has been longstanding US policy for nearly 40 years - never successful and I
believe it will not achieve what other US efforts failed to accomplish earlier,”
Chicago-based Stephen Lendman told Tasnim in an interview.
"The policy reflects imperial America’s ugly face, targeting all sovereign
independent countries for regime change, the analyst said, adding, "In the long
term, it is a losing strategy.”
Stephen Lendman is a writer, syndicated columnist, activist, News TV
personality, and radio show host. He currently writes for MoneyNewsNow.com and
VeteransToday.com and hosts, since 2007, a progressive radio show at The
Progressive Radio News Hour on The Progressive Radio Network.
The following is the full text of the interview:
Tasnim: As you know, the US government’s hostility toward Iran has recently
entered a new stage. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has formed a dedicated group
to coordinate and run the country's policy towards Iran following President
Donald Trump's unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.
Pompeo announced the creation of the Iran Action Group (IAG) at a news
conference, naming Brian Hook, the Department of State's director of policy
planning, as its head. What do you think about the group and its objectives and
do you think that it would be able to reach its goals?
Lendman: What I call the anti-Iran Action Group for regime change is all
about wanting pro-Western puppet rule replacing Iranian sovereign independence.
It has been longstanding US policy for nearly 40 years - never successful and I
believe it will not achieve what other US efforts failed to accomplish earlier.
What it will do is inflict more harshness on ordinary Iranians than already - by
tougher sanctions and destabilizing activities.
The policy reflects imperial America’s ugly face, targeting all sovereign
independent countries for regime change. In the long term, it is a losing
strategy. In a short and intermediate term, it inflicts considerable pain and
suffering on people worldwide.
Tasnim: The Trump administration recently threatened to cut Iranian oil
exports to zero, saying that countries must stop buying its oil from Nov. 4 or
face financial consequences. Washington later softened its threat, saying that
it would allow reduced oil flows of Iranian oil, in certain cases. Since oil is
a strategic product and countries around the world always demand it, do you
think that the US is able to carry out this threat at all?
Lendman: The US threat to halt or greatly reduce Iranian oil shipments
won’t work, at most I believe (it will be) only able to somewhat reduce them.
Washington wants Iran totally isolated for its sovereign independence and
opposition to its hostile imperial agenda. It never achieved this goal before
nor will it ahead I believe.
Tasnim: Trump's threat is part of his walking away from the Iran nuclear
deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He also plans to
fully reinstate anti-Tehran sanctions from November 4. In the meantime, the EU
has vowed to counter Trump’s renewed sanctions on Iran, including by means of a
new law to shield European companies from punitive measures. German Foreign
Minister Heiko Maas recently said Europe should set up payment systems
independent of the US if it wants to save the JCPOA. What do you think about the
EU’s role in reducing Washington’s pressures against Tehran and saving the deal?
Lendman: So far, the EU has been mostly talking with little or no action. It
is largely a US-controlled colony. Will it break away and assert its
independence ahead? I’ll believe it only if and when it does what it never did
before.
I hope Brussels proves me wrong. The JCPOA is too important to lose. Russia and
China strongly support it with firm actions. EU support has been largely
rhetorical with little follow through.
Source: Tasnim