June 17, 2025 (EIRNS)—On the fifth day of warfare, started by Israel against Iran on Friday, June 13, we now see the escalation of British-pedigree geopolitics to the terminal degree of the threat of U.S. “nuclear gunboat diplomacy” against Iran. This is insane. President Donald Trump, who flew back to Washington late Monday night, leaving the G7 meeting in Canada a day early, in order to meet with his National Security Council and military leaders midday today, has given indication of this kind of thinking in a series of postings.
The potential contingencies—though no formal announcement has been made—are 1) will the U.S. engage directly in striking in Iran, alongside Israel, in particular, potentially deploying the “bunker-buster” bomb against the Fordow nuclear complex, deep underground; and, or 2) will this U.S. bombing threat option be used as “leverage” to convince the Tehran government to agree to “unconditional surrender,” or if not, shall the U.S. have Iran’s Supreme Leader murdered.
In one posting, President Trump stated, at 1 pm today, “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there—We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now….”
Furthermore, President Trump re-posted at 9 a.m. today a raving encomium to himself by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, asserting Trump’s option to use nuclear bombs if he receives divine direction to do so! Huckabee wrote: “No President in my lifetime has been in a position like yours. Not since Truman in 1945. I don’t reach out to persuade you. Only to encourage you. I believe you will hear from heaven and that voice is far more important than mine or ANYONE else’s….”
The danger is extreme. More U.S. military assets are being deployed to the Southwest Asian region, despite the existing heavy presence of some 40,000 U.S. troops and multiple U.S. military bases, and shared military space. The possibility is acute of a false-flag attack on U.S. persons or equipment, for example, in Iraq, to blame Iran, and instigate U.S. all-out force deployment. So far, 224 have been killed in Iran, including top government and science leaders; thousands have been injured; and there is widespread infrastructure damage. In Israel, 24 are dead, with dozens more injured. In Gaza the appalling genocide continues.
Statements of opposition to this madness continue to be heard worldwide, though all but blacked out of the U.S. media space, by the controlling military-financial-media complex. Today, China’s President Xi Jinping called for de-escalation between Israel and Iran. Speaking in Astana, Kazakhstan, at the China-Central Asia Summit, Xi said, “China is ready to work with all parties to play a constructive role in restoring peace and stability to the Middle East.”
Yesterday, a joint statement against Israel’s attack on Iran was issued by 21 Arab and Muslim nations, agreed upon by their foreign ministries, at the initiation of Egypt. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today highlighted the importance of this action. The statement calls for the hostilities to cease, declaring that, “the ministers expressed profound concern regarding Israel’s use of force against Iran, which constitutes a violation of the UN Charter and international law.”
In the U.S., the alarm is being sounded by many leading figures, prominent over recent months in collaboration with the International Peace Coalition (IPC) initiated 107 weeks ago by Schiller Institute leader Helga Zepp-LaRouche. For example, former Virginia State Sen. Richard H. Black has a statement in today’s Comments section for the New York Times, titled, “Last Chance Diplomacy or a Bunker-Busting Bomb.” He wrote, “I’m a strong supporter of the President, but I am exhausted by this endless string of wars. Each time, we are told we must attack and kill people to preserve the peace. But no one ever attacks us. Why must we travel 5,000 miles to attack and kill them and destroy their cities and homes? Why not just stop making war on everyone?”
Scott Ritter, former UN weapons inspector, and Marine veteran, on his latest video program, Ritter’s Rant, asks, “How did we get to this point?” His program installment is headlined, “Who Controls the President?” Among other replies to that, he reminds viewers that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recently stated that Iran is not pursuing a nuclear weapons program, and does not constitute a national security threat to the United States. But last night, speaking on Air Force One Trump dismissed her evaluation, saying, “I don’t care what she said. I think they were very close to having one [nuclear weapon].” So Ritter asks, “Who is briefing the President?” He adds the question, “Has America First been transformed into Israel First?”
Bills have been filed this week in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, forbidding the President to go to war against Iran, without an act of Congress.
In New York City today, the Schiller Institute held a street rally near the United Nations, with a sound system, to mobilize internationally. Hundreds of copies of the Schiller Institute June 13 statement, updated with action points, were distributed among the passing diplomats and staff from missions around the world, media, and activist groups. Diane Sare, President of The LaRouche Organization, was among the volunteer organizers. One large, bold banner said simply, “No War with Iran.” A banner showed leaders of the BRICS, saying, “Helga Zepp-LaRouche Says, the U.S. Must Join the New Paradigm.”
There is no time to wait. Take your own initiatives. Join in with the International Peace Coalition, whose next meeting is June 20. Attend (online) or in person; the next Schiller Institute conference in Berlin on July 12-13, a pair with the May 24-25 Schiller Institute U.S. conference—takes up the ideas needed to be sure humanity has a future.
