ITS WAR – US STRIKES IRAN FROM THE SEA AND THE AIR

Trump has announced the start of “major combat operations in Iran”. This comes after an unsuccessful period of negotiations during which the United States (US) sought to pressure Iran into voluntarily halting its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Last week The Common Sense reported that, “On 19 February the US set Iran a 10-day window to move on its nuclear and ballistic missile demands. If Iran does not move on those demands, initial limited strikes from the sea and the air are expected towards the end of this month, to test Iranian resolve. If those strikes do not shift Iran’s position, the next phase may be several weeks of air and sea strikes and, therefore, a full-on war”.

US military sources now say that strikes could last several days.

As strikes began, the American President addressed the nation and said the objective was to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime”.

Trump, who described the Iranian regime as “menacing”, said that “for 47 years the Iranian regime has chanted death to America…and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder targeting the United States, our troops, and the innocent people in many countries…we are not going to put up with it any longer…they can never have a nuclear weapon”.

Trump said the US objective was to “totally obliterate” Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capability and “annihilate their navy”.

The Common Sense has previously reported on how certain American national security thinkers see South Africa as a diplomatic proxy for Iran and that the country has used its diplomatic influence to shield Iran from scrutiny over its nuclear weapons program and human rights record.

In a message to Iran’s proxies, Trump said that these would no longer be allowed to “destabilise the world”.

The Common Sense has reported on how the US has been systematically degrading Iran’s regional and global proxy networks.

In a message to Iranians themselves, Trump said the “hour of your freedom is at hand”. Iran has seen mass civil rights protests over recent weeks, with large numbers of protesters being killed by security forces. South Africa has refused to join in global denunciations of those killings.

According to Trump, “for many years [Iran’s people] have asked for America’s help” and that this may be “your only chance for generations”.

As the US and Israel launched initial strikes against Iran, Tehran responded by launching strikes against US allies in the region, including Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and others. Sources in Israel told The Common Sense that they had been told to prepare to enter bomb shelters. Iran has long promised that it will one day exterminate the Jewish state.

Many observers will be keenly watching how Pretoria responds to the US strikes on Iran for indications of whether South Africa’s foreign policy orientation is turning away from its alliance with the Iranians towards something more pragmatic. Earlier this year South Africa’s government manufactured a media narrative that it wished for Iran to be expelled from joint naval exercises held at South Africa’s Simonstown Naval Base. That messaging went somewhat against the grain of Pretoria’s previously bold endorsements of Iran and its proxy terror forces.