McMaster and Trump did not see eye to eye on how to deal with Iran’s destabilising actions and especially the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement. This is rumoured to be one of the reasons for the new appointment as it is well known that Bolton is not a supporter of the nuclear deal. As we have heard on numerous occasions since the announcement of his appointment, Bolton had previously called for military action to stop Iran becoming nuclear.
The new national security adviser takes office today amid the chaos following the missile strikes on a military base belonging to President Bashar al Assad’s government in Syria. Several Iranians were killed in the attack that claimed the lives of more than a dozen.
This strike happened just hours after the chemical attack on a rebel-held area near the Syrian capital. Trump warned Russia and Iran in a message on Twitter that there would be a “big price to pay”. Trump said: “Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!”
France and the US vowed to respond firmly and strongly to the chemical attack, but have denied involvement in the strike on the Syrian airbase. Russia claims that Israel ordered the strikes.
The recent events in Syria come just weeks before Trump is to make a decision about the future of the Iran nuclear deal. There are more and more indications that the US will exit the deal as it seems the European beneficiaries of the deal are unable to secure the changes and guarantees that Trump is after.
Furthermore, the changes in the Trump administration are an indication that Trump is looking to get rid of those that are not 100 per cent behind him with regards to Iran.
John Bolton has not hidden his contempt of Iran. He is a supporter of the Iranian Resistance and has affirmed that regime change is what the country needs. In past events he has vowed to help the people of Iran achieve freedom and democracy and human rights. He is very aware of the danger of the Iranian regime – not just to the other nations in the region, but to the people as home as well.
The Iranian regime is very aware of Bolton’s opinions and stance and it clearly feels threatened. And so it should feel threatened.
All it takes is more and more people to realise the true nature of the regime and the impossibility of it ever being able to fundamentally change and it will be game-over.
