An example of the criminal war hysteria infecting imperialist ruling circles is an article, “The China-Russia-Iran Axis Is a Clear Threat to America,” by Ariel Cohen of the influential Atlantic Council. Denouncing Russian and Chinese ties to Iran, Cohen treats Israel’s war on Gaza as a golden opportunity to destroy Iran in order to intimidate Russia and China: “The current crisis provides a unique opportunity for Washington to send an unequivocal message to Moscow and Beijing: Back off—or lose Iran.” Action by Iran, Cohen insists, should lead to the annihilation of its armed forces, major industries and government. “If Iran does not heed warnings from Washington and (causes) unacceptable damage to Israeli civilians, it needs to be severely punished, and its nuclear program, military posture, and possibly oil terminals destroyed. The kleptocratic Shia jihadi dictatorship is unlikely to survive this. That will be the message Moscow and Beijing will not be able to ignore.” While this policy is insane and criminal, it nonetheless describes the course Washington and its European imperialist allies are taking, as well as their fascination with nuclear weapons. This is rooted in the deep crisis of American and world imperialism that has developed over decades since the time of the 1991 Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union. https://strategic-culture.su/news/2023/11/08/amid-israeli-genocide-in-gaza-washington-threatens-iran-with-nuclear-war/