In spite of claims by the mediator that a deal was “within reach”, the USA broke off negotiations with Iran to start a bombing campaign on its Persian counterpart for the second time in less than year. (1) The reasons given for the bombing by the Trump administration have been many, varied, contradictory and wrapped in a forty-seven year grievance narrative, including:
- Protecting Israel
- Stopping Iran’s nuclear Programme (that they “obliterated” last year)
- Containing Iran’s missile program
- Eliminate threats to Americans and allies from Iran and proxies
- Punishing treatment of protesters
- Regime change (2)
The initial strikes from what Trump has called Operation Epic Fury (although commentators have changed this to Operation Epstein Fury, in recogniton of his ongoing domestic scandal) managed to take out Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well other senior figures including those USA was considering replacing him with. As the Spanish newspsper El Pais noted “While it is not the first time a head of state or government has been assassinated, it is the only time that responsibility lies with another country and without a declaration of war.” (3) In other words the joint USA/Israel (US/rael) action further demolishes any lingering notion of international law. Israel, unsated by prosecuting a genocide in Gaza, has vowed to kill Khamenei’s successor as part its “systematic plan to eradicate the Iranian regime.” (4)
The war has so far proved unpopular with the public in both the USA and UK where the media has detailed every strike on Iran but has made little to no mention of casualties suffered by US/rael, except for a handful of troops. (5) Reuters reported on March 5th at least 1,230 Iranians killed, including 175 schoolgirls and staff killed in a missile strike on a primary school, 77 Lebanese (where Israel are also bombing), 13 Iraqis, 10 Israelis, 6 USA soldiers (a seventh has been announced since), 4 from Syria, 3 each from Kuwait and United Arab Emirates, one each from Bahrain and Oman. (6)
Although many analysts regard US/raels war as illegal, Trump has been emboldened by his military action against seven countries last year and the abduction of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in January. Indeed, just days into the conflict Trump hinted that Cuba could be next, declaring that the Caribbean island nation is “in its last moments of life.” (7)
As stated earlier, the mainstream media are functioning as stenographers for white power so alternatives narratives are virtually non-existent. Virtually, but not totally. There are commentators like independent geopolitical and military analyst Drago Bosnic and former Intelligence Officer Scott Ritter that assert that the US/rael is in fact losing the war:
“They are destroying the American military infrastructure in the Middle East. They are destroying the American diplomatic infrastructure in the Middle East. They are punishing Israel in ways that Israel could not imagine. They’re punishing Gulf Arab nations.” (8)
There are also others like Professor Xueqin Jiang host of the Predictive History YouTube channel, who has an impressive track record of accurate geopolitical predictions claimed two years ago that Trump would invade Iran but would lose. (9)
Other ways the war is backfiring on US/rael is the estimated $1 billion a day cost that could “Fund Food Aid, Healthcare for Tens of Millions.” It’s not just the USA taking a financial hit. Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil channel that has already led to global energy price hikes hitting ordinary the pockets of ordinary people. (10)
This crisis may aslo acutely affect Afrika. Although a significant producer of crude oil it is currently rather less developed at refining requiring a heavy reliance on imports. Once again, increased fuel prices will cut wide and deep. Additionally, there are defence implications for parts of the continent. Iran has a number of security arrangements such as drone technology in places like the AES. With the ongoing conflict with US/rael, Iran will priortise its defence capabilities for the war effort, raising the spectre of vulnerability. (11)
With all of this going on there are reports that Israel has called on Ghana to “join the international community to support the campaign for a strategic change in Iran’s administration.” Yet, Afrika’s involvement could be be involuntary. Iran has targeted strikes against USA’s military targets across the region. Afrika houses dozens of USA bases that may be brought into play should the conflict continue indefinitely. Given that USA classified briefings reveal that the Trump administration “doesn’t have a clue. They do not have an actual, real rationale, endgame, or plan for the aftermath of this,” the outcome is decidedly open ended. (12)
The reality is that USA’s current conduct is consistent with its past except that whereas before its activities were illicit or cloaked on the language of diplomacy, now they foghorned out with a sabre rattling narcisstic machismo, bolstered by its own sense of entitled impunity. However, this has failed to impress Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani who went viral in his response to talk about a USA ground invasion: “The valiant sons of Imam Khomeini and Imam Khamenei are waiting for you, ready to disgrace those corrupt American officials by killing and capturing thousands.” (13)
(1) Margaret Brennan & Joe Walsh (27/02/26) U.S.-Iran deal is “within our reach,” Omani mediator says. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-iran-deal-within-our-reach-oman-mediator-says/ ; Nima Gerami (28/02/26) Twice Bombed, Still Nuclear: The Limits of Force Against Iran’s Atomic Program. https://warontherocks.com/2026/02/twice-bombed-still-nuclear-the-limits-of-force-against-irans-atomic-program/
(2) Franco Ordoñez (07/03/26) What the Trump administration says about why it went to war with Iran. https://www.npr.org/2026/03/07/nx-s1-5734381/white-house-messaging-iran-us-israel-war; David Brunnstrom (05/03/26) Explainer: Why is the US attacking Iran? https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/why-is-us-attacking-iran-2026-03-01/
(3) Hannah Slack (05/03/26) The death of Ayatollah Khamenei, an unprecedented case in contemporary history. https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-03-05/the-death-of-ayatollah-khamenei-an-unprecedented-case-in-contemporary-history.html; Julian Self, Wolverton Will Podmore, London Mariam (05/03/26) Trump’s ‘Epstein Wars’, a Churchillian speech and principle vs pragmatism. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/metro-uk/20260305/281840060159300
(4) Le Monde with AFP (08/03/23) Netanyahu vows to carry on war, ‘eradicate Iranian regime’. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/03/08/netanyahu-vows-to-carry-on-war-eradicate-iranian-regime_6751204_4.html#; The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (16/09/25) Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, UN Commission finds). https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/09/israel-has-committed-genocide-gaza-strip-un-commission-finds
(5) David Ehl (06/03/26) Middle East conflict: Do US voters back Trump’s Iran war? https://www.dw.com/en/middle-east-conflict-do-us-voters-back-trumps-iran-war/a-76251116; YouGov (05/03/26) UK public opinion on the US-Iran conflict. https://yougov.com/en-gb/articles/54243-uk-public-opinion-on-the-us-iran-conflict
(6) Reuters (05/05/26) How many people have been killed in the US-Israel war on Iran . https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/how-many-people-have-been-killed-us-israel-war-iran-2026-03-03/
(7) Tiago Ventura (02/03/26) From Iran to Venezuela, Here Are the Countries Trump Has Ordered Strikes On in His Second Term. https://time.com/7382074/countries-trump-has-ordered-strikes-on-second-term/; Julien Barnes-Dacey & Ellie Geranmayeh (05/03/26) Strategic lunacy: Why Europeans must stand up to Trump’s illegal war in Iran. https://ecfr.eu/article/strategic-lunacy-why-europeans-must-stand-up-to-trumps-illegal-war-in-iran/; Brendan Rascius (07/03/26) Trump claims Cuba ‘is at the end of the line’ in fresh warning to country. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-cuba-warning-iran-venezuela-b2934021.html
(8) Pangambam S (04/03/26) Scott Ritter: How’s the War Going, Mr. President? (Transcript). https://singjupost.com/scott-ritter-hows-the-war-going-mr-president-transcript/; Drago Bosnic (07/03/26) US Media Finally Admit Outright Failure of U.S.-Israel Military Aggression on Iran. https://www.globalresearch.ca/us-media-finally-admit-outright-failure-of-u-s-israel-military-aggression-on-iran/5918307
(9) Anamica Singh (05/03/26) China ‘Nostradamus’ called Trump’s win and the Iran war. He knows what’s next. https://www.wionews.com/photos/china-nostradamus-called-trump-president-win-iran-war-he-knows-who-will-win-1772698955955/1772698955956
(10) Jake Johnson (06/03/25) $1 Billion Daily Cost of Trump’s Iran War Could Fund Food Aid, Healthcare for Tens of Millions. https://www.commondreams.org/news/daily-cost-iran-war; Nosmot Gbadamosi (04/03/26) What the War on Iran Means for Africa. https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/04/iran-war-us-trump-africa-regional-impact/
(11) AFREC (2022) Oil Products and Refining in the African Energy Landscape. https://www.au-afrec.org/sites/default/files/2022-08/Oil%20Products%20and%20Refining%20in%20the%20African%20Energy%20Landscape%20ENG%20200722.pdf; Nikolas Fischer, Eric Topona, Mouhamadou Kane (03/05-26) How the US-Israel war with Iran is reshaping. Africa. https://www.dw.com/en/how-the-us-israel-war-with-iran-is-reshaping-africa/a-76223689
(12) Pacome Emmanuel Damalie (07/03/26) Israel calls for Ghana’s support in Iran operation. https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-israel-calls-for-ghanas-support-in-iran-operation.html; Nick Turse (01/12/18) U.S. Military Says It Has a “Light Footprint” in Africa. These Documents Show a Vast Network of Bases. https://theintercept.com/2018/12/01/u-s-military-says-it-has-a-light-footprint-in-africa-these-documents-show-a-vast-network-of-bases/; Nick Turse (05/03/26) Sources Briefed on Iran War Say U.S. Has No Plans for What Comes Next. https://theintercept.com/2026/03/05/trump-iran-war-plan-cia/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=The%20Intercept%20Newsletter
(13) Johnathan Marshall, Peter Dale Scott, and Jane Hunter (1987) The Deeper Malady:From Terrorism to Covert Action. Excerpted from the book, The Iran Contra Connection Secret Teams and Covert Operations in the Reagan Era. https://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Ronald_Reagan/Deeper_Malady_TICC.html; Jade Macmillan (09/03/26) How Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth are selling the Iran war to Americans. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-09/trump-hegseth-white-house-frame-iran-middle-east-war-as-a-game/106427790; Al Jazeera Staff (05/03/26) Iranians ‘ready to disgrace’ US troops if they invade, top official says. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/5/iranians-ready-to-disgrace-us-troops-if-they-invade-top-official-says
What does the US/rael-Iran war mean for Afrika & Afrikans?
1) Is any notion of “international law” now dead?
2) Where can we get reliable information about what’s really happening in the war?
3) Where will US/rael go next?
4) What must Afrika do to safeguard itself in this climate?
Our Special Guest:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
Bro. Tafadzwa ShakaRa Mbandaka: the son of Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka, Father, Partner, Universal Afrikan Nationalist, Organiser, Spoken Word Activist, Writer, Cultural Scientist, Educator, Sema Tawi and graduate of the UNIA-ACL’s Course In Afrikan Philosophy (ShakaRaSpeaks.com). Bro. ShakaRa is also director of Kimbunga Media, the UK’s number 1 conscious platform (https://kimbungamedia.com/).
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