‘US cornered itself with Bolton, Pompeo Mideast policies: Analyst
The United States has cornered itself in the Middle East by following the policies of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton, says an American political analyst.
Dr. E. Michael Jones, editor of the Culture Wars Magazine, said the administration of US President Donald Trump spent a long time chasing the anti-Iran agenda put forth by the two senior officials but the outcome was far from what it expected.
“The United States under the leadership of Pompeo and Bolton … have painted themselves into a corner in the Middle East,” Jones told Press TV on Wednesday, referring to the Trump administration’s aggressive approach towards Iran over the past months.
Ties between Tehran and Washington have deteriorated since May 2018, when Trump abandoned the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Germany, France and Britain -- three European signatories to the deal, which was also signed by Russia and China -- have tried to keep it alive by protecting bilateral trade through a special payment channel.
The Trump administration has, without providing any evidence, blamed Iran for recent mysterious attacks against oil tankers sailing through the Sea of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite Iran’s denial, Washington has escalated tensions in the Persian Gulf by sending military reinforcements to the region in order to curb what it refers to as “Iranian aggression.”
The two sides came close to military conflict after Iran downed an intruding US spy drone over its waters in the Persian Gulf.
Trump claimed days later that he had authorized an attack on Iran but called it off to avoid what he heavy casualty.
Unaffected, Iran warned the US president that it would shoot down more drowns if they violate its airspace again.
Jones said in his Press TV interview that Tehran had called Trump’s bluff.
“They [Pompeo and Bolton] sent the fleet but yet, when the attack was supposed to take place, Trump called it back at the last minute.”
“So all of this bluster has led up to an impasse because the Iranians have called their bluff,” he said.
Jones also discussed Pompeo’s recent offer to travel to Iran and directly talk to the Iranian people.
“First of all, why does he need to come to Iran to explain his position?” he asked. “He has the most powerful media organization in the world at his disposal.”
He said before heading to Tehran Pompeo needed to do one thing if he wanted Iranians to take him seriously: Remove anti-Iranian sanctions.
He said Trump’s move in May 2018 to leave the nuclear deal has caused a lot of distrust in Iran for Washington.
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