Tehran – In the wake of an unprecedented joint US military attack on Israel and Iran, international observers have turned their attention to the deeper motivations behind the attack, their geopolitical implications, and the broader trajectory of US policy in the Middle East.
In an exclusive interview with the Tehran Times, Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs provides a comprehensive analysis of the historical context and strategic goals driving the attack.
Sachs’ insights provide an attractive framework for understanding the recent developments of the region.
In this in-depth interview, Professor Sachs highlights several important topics. The purpose of Israel’s long-standing regime change in Iran, the broader US-Israel strategy for regional control, and the rejection of two state solutions.
Sachs, one of the world’s leading economists and political analysts who teach at Columbia University, discusses the historical roots of the policy, including the 1996 “clean break” doctrine, highlighting the diplomatic failures caused by obstruction between us and Israel.
Sachs calls for global action to criticize the US domestic politics and media role, shaping public perceptions, identify Palestine as a member of the United Nations, and support international law.
Below is the interview text.
Question: What are the main strategic motivations of the US and Israel to attack Iran? How do these motivations align with the broader history of US policy in the Middle East?
Answer: The central idea of the Israeli attack is the change of regime in Iran. Israel aims to be the dominant force of the region without allowing the Palestinian state along with Israel on the basis of a two-state solution, without serious military competition. In short, Israel is trying to annexate all of Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and some of its other neighbouring countries, such as Syria.
In 1996, Netanyahu took office with a political strategy known as Clean Break. This meant that there was no “land for peace” (i.e., no two-state solution), and with US military support, Israel would overthrow the Middle Eastern government and support Palestinian resistance to control Israeli occupied territories. This led to the Israeli US war in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and now Iran.
The region’s major powers should seek a comprehensive peace agreement based on Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy, the solutions of two states, the collective security of all countries, the Israeli genocide and the immediate end of military action.
Q: You claimed that Israel is seeking a change of government in Iran and is opposed to the Palestinian state. How effective and dangerous is this strategy for stability in this region?
A: There is no peace or justice in this region except for the two state solutions. The basic fact is that Israel and its occupied territory has (approximately 8 million Jews and 8 million Palestinian Arabs).
The only practical approach to avoiding ruthless disasters is the two states’ solution under international law, with Palestine being recognized by the United Nations as the 194th member state at the border on June 4, 1967, and having control over the capital of East Jerusalem and the sacred Muslim sites.
Over 180 countries (of the 193) of the United Nations can be implemented with global support, as around 95% of the world’s population supports the two-state approach. Since Israel disagrees with that, the two states’ solutions should be imposed by the UN Security Council as part of a comprehensive peace agreement that will, of course, make the Middle East and Western Asia safe for all countries, including Iran.
The UN Security Council should act in this way in accordance with international law and in accordance with UNSC’s responsibility to maintain peace, including ending Israeli massacres in Gaza and the West Bank.
The United States has so far rejected this obvious and fair solution and has instead acted on behalf of Israel’s militant government. The key to the present day is that over 180 countries clearly and clearly communicate to us that there is no path to peace other than the state of Palestine, which is currently recognized by the United Nations.
The only option is illegal, bloodshed, and continuing the war, along with conspiracy to undermine America’s own safety and happiness.
“The US and Israeli governments have witnessed Iran’s ability to retaliate Israel in response to Israel’s brave attacks and seriously damage them.” Q: How will the US internal political sector affect its capabilities and decisions regarding military involvement with Iran?
A: American politics have been fully supportive of the Israeli extremist position for decades. The Israeli lobby is very realistic, but not well understood. For example, around 45% of Donald Trump’s vote in 2024 came from evangelical Christian Zionists (Christians, Israeli arch supporters).
Therefore, the US Israeli lobby is based on far more Christian votes than Jewish votes. Modern Zionism began in England in the early 19th century as a project for British evangelical Protestant Christians! And many of those Christian Zionists were anti-Semitic. This is strange but true!
Q: You said Iran does not seek nuclear weapons and is allowing testing. Why is this story often ignored or distorted by Western officials and media?
A: All Western foreign policies, perhaps especially the US and UK foreign policies, are justified by the wider public using propaganda, not true. The polite word in propaganda is “story,” but the true meaning of “story” is public relations, selling foreign policy like cheap, deceptive advertising. Mass media follows government leads, and the US government is generally lying mercilessly.
“Israel and the United States have killed the JCPOA. This is so many of the strategies of division and conquest.” Q: Why did diplomatic efforts, including the JCPOA, prevent escalation?
A: The key to American power is the old tactics of “division and conquest.” Rather than seeking a fair reconciliation in the Middle East, the US aims to divide the Islamic world. The United States fought against Arab countries for Iran and repeatedly divided Arab countries. The US plays Turkey against the Arabs against Iran. The Abraham Agreement aims to divide the Arab world to avoid implementing the Palestinian state and the two state solutions.
Israel and the US killed the JCPOA. This is a huge amount of disparities and conquest strategies. According to Israel, it’s better for the United States to concile than overthrow the Iranian government. Israel is trying to end all sources of support for Palestine.
The solution for the region is for Iran to work closely with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and with the support of the BRICS group (including Brazil, Russia, China, Indonesia, etc.) to firmly and clearly assert the US government that it will not allow Palestine, not allow Palestine, and not recognize peace other than to not acknowledge Palestine.
The United States and Israel dream of bringing Saudi Arabia to the Abraham Accord, thereby killing the possibility of the Palestinian state forever. Saudi Arabia was clear and powerful. Peace depends on the state of Palestine as a member of the United Nations.
All great powers in the regions of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey must cooperate in a comprehensive peace agreement based on Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy, entry into the United Nations as the 194th member state, collective security of all countries, Israeli genocide and a direct end to biliary action.
“The United States and Israel dream of bringing Saudi Arabia to the Abraham Accord, thereby killing the Palestinian potential forever.” Q: What role did the United States and Israel play in undermining these diplomatic channels?
A: They played an overwhelming role in killing the peace process. This has been going on for decades.
Q: I proposed that the global domination of the United States is declining. How does the conflict with Iran reflect this change? What might a new, large international order look like?
A: The United States did not want another long-term war and could not afford it. The broader masses and Trump’s voter base are strongly opposed to the United States, who engage in more wars in the Middle East. The US and Israeli governments have also witnessed Iran’s retaliation and the ability to seriously damage Israel in response to Israeli brave attacks.
The US is a bully, but it’s not full of energy. In contrast to Israel’s unfair and continuing control over Palestinians, almost every country in the world seeks peace in the Middle East, based on collective security, including Iran.
Israel is now widely regarded worldwide for its murderous actions. This paves the way for true global diplomacy. There, UN member states firmly appeal to peace, justice and the rule of international law, ultimately ending the long accomplices of Israel’s illegal and brutal actions.