The Many Fathers of The Murder of Iran

Key Points:

• Former President Trump has threatened actions that could lead to the destruction of an ancient civilization, raising fears of potential U.S. use of nuclear weapons against Iran for the first time since 1945.
• The article traces the buildup to this crisis to decades of U.S. policy, including the Bush administration's hostile stance post-9/11, bipartisan opposition to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, and escalations under both Trump and Biden administrations.
• The author emphasizes that Trump is not solely to blame, highlighting a broader political and media apparatus that has consistently pursued antagonistic policies toward Iran, undermining diplomatic efforts and increasing regional tensions.
• The piece calls for a reckoning with the long history of U.S.-Iran relations and warns against dismissing responsibility, as the consequences of potential conflict could be catastrophic for millions of Iranians and the region.
• Additionally, the editor shares a cultural counterpoint, spotlighting Hugo Pratt, a cartoonist who grew up amid Italian colonialism in Ethiopia, illustrating the complex human stories behind historical conflicts.