After first claiming the United States was trying to “provoke” all-out war with Iran Monday morning on MSNBC, NBC’s chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel brought his tinfoil hat conspiracy to NBC Nightly News later that day.
NBC kicked off the broadcast with Engel’s suspicion about U.S. intelligence claims that Iran was planning some sort of attack against troops in the region. “But the nature of such an attack is unclear, military officials saying only they have intelligence of a credible threat,” warned anchor Lester Holt.
Engel sympathized with Iran:
U.S. officials tell NBC News the threats targeted multiple locations and at the aircraft carrier’s deployment was preplanned but moved up. But in Iran tonight, officials are trying not to take what they see as America's bait. In February, Iran's foreign minister told me the Trump administration is looking for war.
He even played a soundbite of Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif asserting the antagonistic relationship was driven by the “same people that created war with Iraq. We have the same gang in the White House.”
“Tonight, National Security Advisor John Bolton said the U.S. is ‘not seeking war’ with Iran but he has repeatedly called for regime change there,” Engel argued.
As NBC was wrapping up the segment, Engel’s shifted to crafting a supposed plot by the President to spark a war with Iran on behalf of Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
ENGEL: President Trump's close allies Saudi Arabia's crowned prince and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu have also both called for a hard line on Iran.
[Cuts back to live]
HOLT: And Richard joining me now. What does this aircraft carrier group symbol in the wider pressure from the U.S.?
ENGEL: So there is this collision, international collision against Iran. The U.S. is part of it. Israel is part of it. So it has a lot of people in the region concerned when they see the United States moving this firepower into the Middle East just after Netanyahu secured his political future. People are wondering is this real or is the U.S. looking for some sort of provocation for other reasons?
This wasn’t the first time Engel had made such wild accusations against the U.S. and Israel. A year ago, he said both countries were the cause of destabilization in the Middle East.
In September 2017, Holt sat down with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and was worried for Iran, asking:
The Trump administration representatives, President in New York, and they are putting Iran essentially in the same basket as North Korea, portraying both countries as a threat to stability and peace and calling on the world to act. How do you feel when you hear Iran and North Korea spoken about in the same breath?
It’s disturbing how NBC can back a country that’s responsible for rocket attacks Israeli civilians (like one over the weekend), and takes American citizens hostage.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
May 6, 2019
7:01:43 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Good evening, everyone. U.S. officials tonight are backing up a strong warning to Iran with American warships and planes heading to the region. The Pentagon accusing Iran of provocations and directing an aircraft carrier strike group to the Persian Gulf; positioned to retaliate should Iran or proxies attack American interests in the Middle East. But the nature of such an attack is unclear, military officials saying only they have intelligence of a credible threat. Our Richard Engel now on what we know.
[Cuts to video]
RICHARD ENGEL: Tonight, in a dramatic show of force, the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its battle group are on their way to the Middle East near Iran's shores. Administration officials say it’s defensive, that U.S. intelligence says Iran or its proxy forces are planning to attack U.S. troops in the region and the warships are an unmistakable sign of what will happen if they do.
MIKE POMPEO: We have continued to see activity that leads us to believe that there is escalation that may be taking place and so we're taking all the appropriate actions.
ENGEL: U.S. officials tell NBC News the threats targeted multiple locations and at the aircraft carrier’s deployment was preplanned but moved up. But in Iran tonight, officials are trying not to take what they see as America's bait. In February, Iran's foreign minister told me the Trump administration is looking for war.
MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF: Same people that created war with Iraq. We have the same gang in the White House.
ENGEL: Tonight, National Security Advisor John Bolton said the U.S. is “not seeking war” with Iran but he has repeatedly called for regime change there. President Trump's close allies Saudi Arabia's crowned prince and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu have also both called for a hard line on Iran.
[Cuts back to live]
HOLT: And Richard joining me now. What does this aircraft carrier group symbol in the wider pressure from the U.S.?
ENGEL: So there is this collision, international collision against Iran. The U.S. is part of it. Israel is part of it. So it has a lot of people in the region concerned when they see the United States moving this firepower into the Middle East just after Netanyahu secured his political future. People are wondering is this real or is the U.S. looking for some sort of provocation for other reasons?
HOLT: All right. Richard, thank you.
