Iran is determined to build a nuclear weapon and US President Joe Biden's diplomatic efforts have yielded nothing but a “green light” for Tehran, Donald Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon has said.
In a wide-ranging, exclusive interview with The National, Mr Bannon, who worked in the White House during the first seven months of Mr Trump's term as president from 2017 to 2021, also said right-wing political wins in Europe herald a growing “populist nationalism” movement. He also claimed that the world stands on the precipice of a depression as central banks raise rates in their struggle to tame inflation.
A staunch opponent of the 2015 nuclear deal forged by then-president Barack Obama, Mr Bannon encouraged his boss to exit the deal in 2017, something that ultimately happened the following year.
The Trump administration's argument was that Tehran was violating the terms and the spirit of the deal, and using new inflows of cash to build up proxy militias across the Middle East.
The Biden administration has spent 18 months trying to coax Tehran back into the deal aimed at constraining its ambitions to develop a nuclear weapon, but those efforts appear to have come to an impasse after consecutive rounds of fruitless negotiations.
Tehran's perception is that the Biden administration is “weak” and has essentially given Iran “a green light to get a nuclear weapon”, Mr Bannon said.
“It's incredibly dangerous, and not just that, it jeopardises two of our best allies,” in reference to the Gulf and Israel, which he said “are right in the crosshairs of Iran”.
The long-time Trump ally, who remains a popular figure in America's conservative political circles, was this month charged with money laundering and fraud for allegedly misappropriating millions of dollars donated for building a wall along the US-Mexico border.
He also is due to be sentenced next month for failing to comply with the House of Representatives committee investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
“I know I'll win on appeal,” he said.
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Donald Trump, the US president at the time, talks to chief strategist Steve Bannon during a swearing-in ceremony for senior staff at the White House in 2017. Reuters -
Mr Bannon while working as chief strategist at the White House in 2017. AP -
Mr Bannon listens as Mr Trump speaks during a meeting on cyber security in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in 2017. AP -
France's National Front party leader Marine Le Pen looks on as Mr Bannon speaks to the press in Lille, France, in 2018. AP -
Mr Bannon at a press conference in September after he was charged with several felony counts of conspiracy, money laundering and fraud regarding his involvement in a crowdfunded border wall project scheme. EPA -
Mr Bannon attends his arraignment at the New York Criminal Courthouse in New York on September 8. Reuters -
Mr Bannon outside the New York courthouse on September 8. AFP -
Critics have said Mr Bannon worked with Mr Trump to try to subvert democracy in the build-up to the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. AP -
Mr Bannon speaks to reporters after leaving US District Court in Washington. Reuters -
Mr Bannon, who was closely involved in Mr Trump's rise to the US presidency, arrives at the courthouse. AFP -
Mr Bannon's role in the January 6 insurrection has been scrutinised by the House of Representatives committee probing the attack and its causes. Mr Bannon faces jail time for refusing to co-operate with the committee. EPA -
Mr Bannon after a court appearance in Washington in November 2021. AFP -
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they try to storm the US Capitol. AFP
'American adventurism'
Describing Iran as the world's “most dangerous hotspot”, Mr Bannon cautioned against any rush to use force to try to destroy Tehran's nuclear programme. He has long spoken out against the unintended consequences of “American adventurism”, such as the protracted conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He said the US should be focused on an all-encompassing sanctions push that would isolate Tehran's rulers and inflict unsustainable levels of economic pain.
“You want to have the popular revolt in Iran with the streets full, with something in addition to the suppression of women they've had there? Put them under economic distress … and let the people overthrow them,” he said.
Critics have accused Mr Bannon, who now runs a populist podcast called Bannon's War Room, of being a dangerous demagogue who delights in the casual use of offensive language and riling up the “elites” of the world.
During the interview, he repeatedly referred to Covid-19 as the “CCP virus”, as a way of blaming China for the pandemic, and he insisted that the Democrats and Mr Biden had “stolen” the 2020 presidential election, even though such claims have been widely debunked.
Iran's “focus is to get nuclear weapons because they believe with nuclear weapons they can control the region in a reign of terror,” Mr Bannon said.
The far-right
Asked about the political future for Mr Trump, who faces a sprawling array of lawsuits and investigations, Mr Bannon predicted the 76-year-old former president would run again.
“He will win the primary for president and he'll be the next president in 2024 and have four more years in the White House,” Mr Bannon said.
Mr Bannon, who frequently wades into European politics and was a staunch advocate of Brexit, praised the recent victory of the hard-right coalition led by Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, who is on course to become the country's first female prime minister.
An avid supporter of Ms Meloni, Mr Bannon said the world needs to watch her closely.
Her Brothers of Italy party has neo-fascist roots but Mr Bannon distanced himself from the connection, defending her platform as “common sense” and “middle of the road” dealing with “one sovereignty”.
“Populist nationalism is exploding throughout the world. And it is because people are looking for solutions right now. And they think the elites have made terrible decisions that have only benefited themselves, particularly economically,” he said.
In Spain, the hard-right Vox, a party closely aligned with Ms Meloni, is also surging. In France this year, the far-right leader Marine Le Pen reached the final round of the presidential elections for the second consecutive time.
Perhaps the most unexpected development was support for the Sweden Democrats, once considered an extremist party, which emerged as the second-most popular party in Sweden and will form part of the next government.
Mr Bannon lambasted Britain's Conservatives, predicting “there won't be a Tory government by the spring” because of Prime Minister Liz Truss's and Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng's mini-budget that has seen interest rates soar, the pound nosedive and the value of pension funds collapse.
“They'll be thrown out of office because of these poorly thought-through moves on issues of finance and economics,” Mr Bannon said.
As the UK’s government’s fiscal plan has increased economic uncertainty, Mr Bannon stated that the world economy is “one or two bad moves away from being in a global depression.”
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Giorgia Meloni, leader of the Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) holds a "thank you Italy" sign during a press conference at the party electoral headquarters in Rome. Getty -
Supporters celebrate at Ms Meloni's press conference. Getty -
Ignazio La Russa from the Brothers of Italy talks to the media. Getty -
The snap election was triggered by the resignation of Prime Minister Mario Draghi in July. Getty -
Guido Crosetto, co-founder of the Brothers of Italy party. Getty -
Staff members and supporters of Ms Meloni celebrate. Bloomberg -
Debora Serracchiani, vice president of the Italian centre-left Democratic Party, addresses the media. AFP -
Ms Meloni casts her vote on Sunday. Getty -
Ms Meloni is on track to lead Italy's most right-wing government since the Second World War. AFP -
Exit polls appear on the screen at the Brothers of Italy headquarters. Reuters
