Pepe Escobar : The American Blockade Leaks!

Trump attempted to bribe IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi with billions of dollars via a back channel through Kurdish leader Nershivan Barzani.

Rejected the bribe as contrary to Shiite ethics and reported it to Iran's top leadership.

Authorized passing the bribe attempt information to Pakistani mediators.

The U.S. misapplied a Latin American bribery playbook to Iran, ignoring that IRGC officials are incorruptible due to their mission to defend Iran. Mosheh Rezaei, not Vahidi, holds the real military power and direct communication with the Supreme Leader.

The U.S. cannot sever Iran's overland trade corridors with Russia and China, but will target Pakistan's routes and exploit terrorist cells in Baluchistan.

The UAE's trade cutoff with Iran was forced by the U.S., but the UAE is playing a double game, having recently sent cash and gold to Tehran.

China wants South Korea to kick the U.S. out and maintain neutrality, which could change the Northeast Asian chessboard.

Urged South Korea to come and deal with China.

Mossad warned of an Iranian plot to shoot down Air Force One, and Trump believed it despite the CIA's low confidence assessment.

Assessed the Mossad intel as low confidence.

Warned that Iran planned to shoot down Air Force One.

Israeli attacks on Turkish assets in Syria could be a prelude to a broader conflict, as Israel has telegraphed that Turkey is next.

European foreign ministries are forbidding diplomats and journalists from attending the BRICS summit in Delhi, viewing it as an anti-West mechanism.

U.S. federal debt exceeded $40 trillion and the 30-year bond yield hit 5.26%, forcing the Treasury to borrow at higher interest to repay existing debt.