For months, I have said this in every possible forum: the negotiations between Trump and the Iranians were never truly about reaching an agreement. They were about legitimacy. A sophisticated smokescreen. A strategic deception on a global scale.

On the surface, Trump presented responsible leadership to the world. He spoke about diplomacy, about exhausting talks, about giving negotiations every possible chance. He allowed Europe to feel involved, gave Russia and China room to maneuver, and sent a clear message to the American public: I did everything possible to avoid war.

But simultaneously—beneath the public radar—a war machine was being assembled. Not rhetorical threats. Not symbolic exercises. A real campaign. Intelligence coordination, logistical preparation, force deployment, armament, and an unprecedented deepening of cooperation with Israel.

The strategy was dual: create international legitimacy—while preparing the........

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