By Aliyu Barau
1. Out of deep frustration, Professor Jeffery Sachs – my Sustainable Development course teacher 2013 – has repeatedly labelled President Donald Trump as a weak, ignorant and gangster. The New York based University of Columbia top-ranking academic insinuates that the US President(s) is or are being manipulated and beguiled by people in the pay list of American military-digital-industrial complex. He calls the likes of Lindsey Graham and Mike Pompeo as idiots in the White House. Professor Sachs feels that Trump is acting on Netanyahu’s mendacious Clean Break doctrine birthed in 1996 to cripple Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and Lebanon. The script is working.
2. If anything, the joint American-Israeli attack on Iran in June 2025 only honed and perfected its deterrence and bellicose posture. The 12-day war with US and Israel and more recently the much touted December/January nationwide riots have given Iran all what it needs from what the military calls TTPs – Tactics, Techniques and Procedures. Probably, the Iranians now understand better ways to withstand external bully and fire volleys. Iranians and their Chinese and Russian allies relearn how to throw strong punches at internal and external threat actors. For sure, Iran lacks headgears to protect it against pelts on her head, but she has hard fists to harshly kick at under bellies.
3. This is the time for the West to accept that 2025 is not 1925. Economically speaking, by the year 2000 the combined economy of EU countries was eight times bigger than China’s economy. However, by 2025 China has bridged the gap and both economies are of the same size. Not surprisingly, by 2050 EU’s economy will be half of China’s. This is how the West is losing its centuries-old grip of the world economy. The most powerful need to be humble and recalibrate their spheres of influence and power plays. Today, more countries are orbiting around China’s economy and military planets. This is simply because China does treat countries condescendingly.
4. The many rounds of pernicious sanctions imposed on Iran have effectively and resoundingly battered the Iranian Rial into almost a lifeless currency. The economy is stunted and looks terminally morbid. Poorer Iranians are increasingly dejected, frustrated and angry with their Government. However, most Iranians are profusely anti-West, and their anger for Ayatollahs is often evanescent when they look at who tightens the noose.
5. The US is the headmaster of the Western countries. Yes, the West must wake up and hearken to the inconvenient truth that Professor Kishore Mahbubani preached. The Singapore academic diplomat and former President of the UN Security Council simply said: All Civilizations Are Equal. This is true because new powers are emerging and with more agency to chart their course.
6. As far as I can see, Zionists and Neocons in the US power corridors are ignoramus and their esoteric playbook is merely harangue and garrulous. This typical military-digital-industrial roller coaster of war mongering wouldn’t do the West any good. Why not try other alternatives to deal with Iran.
7. Iran vis-à-vis Islam. In my opinion, sanctions and military actions cannot force Iran to yield. Use of force will be at a huge cost to the West. This is because 2026 is not 1926. Instead, I plead with the United States as the reigning super power to use Islam in dealing with Iran problem. Islam is in Iran’s DNA. Yes, the US must sincerely and practically adapt/adopt Islamic approach for them to effectively wedge Iran and its octopus hands. Does this sound any prickly?
8. Let us learn from the history. The predecessor of the famous Malian King Mansa Musa named Mansa Abubakar II was the first to explore the Americas in 14th century. He abdicated his throne simply to find where the Ocean ends. The genes of over a thousand co-explorers that followed him must have influenced some good things in the Americas. In the 19th century, United States had had the best friendly relations with Muslim countries. Morocco was the first country to recognise the United States as an independent country. The Ottoman Turkey was the only foreign country that contributed to construction of the Washington monument and this remains acknowledged at its 14th floor. The Sultanate of Oman established ties with US naval forces in the same period. The Omanis were among the first to establish friendly ties with the US Government.
9. I am saying to the US, you can disarm and de-escalate tensions with Iran Islamically in a number of ways. For instance, Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings upon him) taught Muslims to ‘spread peace and share food to the needy’. Some accounts held that the noble Prophet himself would feed 70 needy and homeless people every day. At the moment, Iranians are well battered and pauperised. I feel that the way out is for the US to remove all the excruciating sanctions and let Iranians get food and medical supplies to near the level Saudis, Qataris, and Emiratis enjoy. What will follow is that Iranians will praise President Trump and not Ayatollahs. This is not new for the Americans. I learnt that there was an avenue in Nouakchott, Mauritania named in honour of President J.F Kennedy. Though the avenue has been renamed Al-‘Allama Buddah Ould al-Busayri Avenue in 2009 as a protest to the increasing American unilateralism. That honour came as a result of his Good Samaritan posture exhibited by JFK. In those days, many elderly Mauritanians call him ‘rajilun salih’ meaning a virtuous man. Kennedy sent them wheat that was labelled Not for Sale. Let Iranians live well and see how they will react. On other hand, the nuclear threat can be rolled back Islamically as well. Nuclear weapon is the most dangerous firepower on the Earth. It is haram for Muslims to use it on any nation. Iran has repeatedly said its nuclear ambition is for civil and peaceful purpose. But nobody believes them or all doubt them. In this regard, President Trump needs to sound very Sheikhish. Let him quote for the Iranians another hadith where Prophet Mohammed emphatically said: nobody punishes with fire, for only He that creates fire can punish with it.
10. I believe that is one of the short cuts to make Iranians to bloodlessly capitulate while keeping a good military deterrence. Remember, Islam is the only enduring faith system that exerted maximum influence on the Persian civilisation without cancelling it wholly. Can President Trump try my elixir?
I add my voice to No to War, No to Destruction, No to Aggression.
– Professor Aliyu Salisu Barau, Sunday, February 1, 2026.
