US waging psy-war on Iran, not interested in confrontation: Scholar
An American scholar and author says despite employing psychological warfare against Iran, the United States is not inclined towards engaging in actual military confrontation with the Islamic Republic.
That is “probably true with regard to [US President Donald] Trump himself and perhaps many, not most of, his advisers and military people,” Kevin Barrett told Press TV on Sunday.
However, “there may be a group, that kind of B-Team, talked about by [Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad] Zarif, that would be willing to go to war,” he added.
Last month, the Iranian top diplomat identified the B-Team in remarks to Fox News as US National Security Adviser John Bolton, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The US has been pursuing a policy of “maximum pressure” against Iran under Trump, which has Bolton as its top security aide. The flagship piece of the policy has seen Washington reinstating draconian economic sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic.
Washington has been enlisting the assistance of its regional allies in implementing the policy. Recently, it said that it would target every country potentially buying Iran’s oil as of May 2 with “secondary sanctions.”
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates immediately reported that they would be making up for potential shortages of the Iranian crude.
Earlier in the month, Bolton, the administration’s most warlike figure, announced that the US has dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Middle East. The Pentagon said on Friday that the US was deploying an amphibious assault ship and a Patriot missile battery to bolster the carrier and bombers.
“Those people absolutely must be contained,” Barrett added, referring to pro-war politicians such as Bolton.
On Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani similarly said, “Today, a radical group inside the White House, which holds many affairs in its hands, has even seized control from the president himself.”
Barrett, however, said, “Obviously, Iran is not going to knuckle under to these ridiculous kinds of demands of people like Bolton and [US Secretary of State] Pompeo.” The latter has been identified as the architect of the “maximum pressure” campaign.
“But, on the other hand, it should be prepared to defend itself just in case,” the scholar concluded.
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