Col. Larry Wilkerson: Trump Caves Under Pressure — Iran’s Capabilities Now Bigger Than Ever

Col. Wilkerson asserts that the current US military display near Iran is a bluff by Donald Trump, who is ultimately seeking a nuclear agreement similar to the JCPOA that he previously abandoned. The absence of a formal 'incident at sea' agreement between the US and Iran creates a highly dangerous situation where a minor incident, like a drone over an aircraft carrier, could quickly escalate due to miscommunication or miscalculation.

Wilkerson states, 'I don't think there's any chance in the world other than an accident... that he's going to order them to shoot. I really don't. I think this is all Donald Trump bluffing.' He also details his past efforts to establish an 'incident at sea agreement' with Iran, which were unsuccessful, leaving a critical gap in de-escalation protocols.

Wilkerson unequivocally identifies Israel, particularly under Netanyahu, as the biggest problem in the Middle East. He argues that Israel desires chaos or regime change in Iran and actively works to prevent regional stability, fearing a flourishing Iran or Lebanon. This objective is seen as a major impediment to any US-Iran agreement.

He quotes the Omani foreign minister: 'The big problem in the region is Israel. Israel, not Saudi Arabia, not Iran, not Egypt. The big problem is Israel.' He adds, 'What Netanyahu wants is regime change. Period. Or chaos. He'll take either one.'

Demands from Israel, such as the removal of all enriched uranium and restrictions on Iran's missile program, are deemed 'absurd' by Wilkerson. He explains that Iran's missile capabilities are the backbone of its defense, serving as the equivalent of conventional military strength for a country with long, difficult-to-defend borders and numerous adversaries.

Wilkerson states, 'It's absurd. It's like saying, 'Okay, you're 90 million people with a long, long, almost impossible to defend border and you have enemies galore... and we want you to disarm.'... their main defense is their missile. And to take that away from them is to leave them naked in a very dangerous region.'

Trump's advisors reportedly informed him that a 'quick and decisive attack' against Iran that wouldn't risk a long-term war does not exist. Wilkerson supports this, noting Iran's significant defensive capabilities and the high probability that any such action would lead to a much larger conflict.

Responding to a Wall Street Journal report, Wilkerson says, 'Bingo. It doesn't. It doesn't. It simply doesn't exist.' He estimates a '10% chance of success and you get a 85-90% chance of starting a bigger war' for even limited operations like capturing Iranian leaders.

The US government's involvement in the Ukraine war is not driven by a genuine concern for Ukrainian democracy or freedom, but rather by a strategic objective to keep Putin occupied and drain Russia's power. Ukrainian lives are being sacrificed for this geopolitical aim.

Wilkerson states, 'We are using the blood of Ukrainians to foul up Putin's machine. That's what we're doing.' He adds, 'It has everything to do with what Lindsey Graham wants it to have to do with, and that's keeping Putin occupied and draining his power. Period.'

Amidst global conflicts and US-imposed sanctions, China and other non-sanctioning Asian countries (e.g., Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia) are experiencing significant economic success. These nations, unburdened by military conflicts or punitive economic measures, are generating a substantial portion of the world's GDP, indicating a shift in global economic power.

Wilkerson cites a report showing 'the economic success of about 12-13 of the Asian countries... and how they don't have any sanctions on anybody. They don't have any bombs dropping... and they're the most successful economies in the world... 45-50% of the world's GDP is being generated by these 12 countries.'