larry johnson speaks about iran and the empire; 

A good question. The 2025 National Security Strategy actually offers very little substance on Iran as a threat… It is largely ignored. An Iranian journalist reached out to me today about the implications of the NSS for Iranian/US relations and asked me to answer several questions. Here are my answers:

Given Tom Barack’s admission of the failure of America’s interventionist policies towards Iran, does this mean a change in Washington’s approach to diplomacy and dialogue with Tehran, or is it merely a superficial change in the tone of American officials’ speeches?

Short answer… I think it is a superficial change. The 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS), released by the Trump administration on December 4, 2025, marks a significant rhetorical shift from the 2022 Biden-era document, emphasizing “America First” non-interventionism, economic priorities, and reduced focus on the Middle East. Iran receives only cursory treatment—far less emphasis than in prior strategies—portrayed as a diminished regional threat following U.S. and Israeli military actions.

The NSS portrays Iran as “the region’s chief destabilizing force,” but asserts it has been “greatly weakened by Israeli actions since October 7, 2023, and President Trump’s June 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer, which significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear program.”.........more........