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Iran, final act of a play written in Munich
Let’ s go back to the night of February 28, 2026. What is striking about Trump’ s speech is that it goes back to the Islamic Revolution of 1979, recalling the hostage-taking at the US embassy in Tehran and the 1983 attacks on the Marines in Beirut. It feels as if Trump is settling all these scores. The difference with June 2025 is that in June it was an Israeli war against Iran, with the US only intervening on the tenth day. This time, it is an American war. Slate In June 2025, the United States and Israel struck Iran’ s nuclear infrastructure for the first time in a war that lasted twelve days. Trump then promised:“ We will destroy their missiles and wipe out their ballistic industry. We will wipe out their navy.” Then came the protests. In December 2025, massive protests rocked Iran, initially over economic demands, but quickly turning into a challenge to the government. More than 7,000 people died in the crackdown. Franceinfo On January 13, 2026, Trump called on Iranians to“ keep protesting” and“ take control of your institutions.” On January 28, he announced that“ a huge armada is heading for Iran.” On February 13, he stated that regime change would be“ the best thing that could happen.” This is the classic playbook for regime change: weaken the economy through sanctions, support internal opposition, then justify military intervention by repressing protesters. The same playbook used in Libya in 2011. In Iraq in 2003. In Nicaragua in the 1980s. The operation is described by US officials as likely to last“ several days.” Such operations are illegal under both US and international law.
Flashmag! Edition 170 Mars 2026
France was“ neither warned nor involved,” according to the Élysée Palace. The UN condemns the action. European allies remain frozen in front of their screens. And Rubio, from Munich, must feel that his speech on“ civilization” is beginning to take on its full meaning.
Hubert Marlin Elingui Jr. Journalist
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