AMERICA’S self-styled ‘peace president’ has unleashed a brutal war against a country that poses no direct threat to his own. The conflict marks Donald Trump’s second military venture in less than six months, cementing his place among America’s war presidents. The joint US-Israel aggression against Iran has come as no surprise. For weeks, Washington had been deploying massive naval fleets to the region even as it publicly engaged Tehran in nuclear negotiations. It marked the largest US military build-up in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

It was becoming increasingly evident that Trump was not genuinely pursuing a deal; the talks appeared to serve merely as a cover for military preparations. The offensive was initiated despite reports of a breakthrough in ongoing negotiations. Trump’s decision to go to war and abandon diplomatic negotiations was reportedly driven by persistent pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as by what Trump saw as his success in Venezuela.

According to media reports, the US and Israel had agreed to a war plan in December last year, which would target not only military installations but also senior Iranian leaders.

The US-Israel assassination of Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — the head of a sovereign state — along with members of his family, underscores the hubris and brazenness of the rogue leader at the helm of the world’s most powerful nation. The targeted attacks, according to Israel, killed more than 40 senior Iranian officials, including the commander of the Revolutionary........

© Dawn