Judging Freedom Max Blumenthal : Did U.S. Policy Deliberately Harm Civilians in Iran?
Jan 22, 2026
Max Blumenthal, an investigative journalist and author known for his insights on U.S. foreign policy, dives deep into the implications of U.S. sanctions on Iran. He discusses how these policies may have intentionally harmed Iranian civilians and explores a Treasury official's controversial admission about devaluing Iran's currency. Blumenthal also examines the potential for military strikes, the geopolitical landscape, and the anticipated fallout from such actions, providing a critical look at past and present U.S. involvement in the region.
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Sanctions As Deliberate Economic Warfare
- Max Blumenthal highlights that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent openly described sanctions as deliberately collapsing Iran's economy to provoke unrest.
- He frames this as economic statecraft that intentionally inflicted hardship without firing a shot.
Hybrid Operations Turn Protests Into Chaos
- Blumenthal argues U.S. economic pressure and covert support for protests escalated into engineered violence and chaos inside Iran.
- He says foreign intelligence services and armed elements infiltrated protests to amplify disorder and blame the government.
OFAC As An Instrument Of Long-Term Pressure
- Blumenthal links OFAC and Treasury's post‑9/11 apparatus to sustained campaigns against regimes like Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba.
- He describes this financial statecraft as a tool of regime pressure and political coercion beyond conventional policy.