Washington – According to a U.S. official, U.S. There are growing indications that Iran may be planning to attack the US military or interests in the Middle East.
The American official, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that reading Iran’s intentions was “difficult and unpredictable at times.”
But these signs are being taken seriously, the official said. U.S. There are days left to the one-year anniversary of the assassination of top Iranian General Qasem Solimani.
Suleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq on January 3, 2020, which the Department of Defense described as a “defensive measure” because it claimed that the leader of Iran’s Quds Force was developing plans to attack Americans. . In response to the days of killings after Iran launched missiles against the US military in Iraq
U.S. This week, B-526 bombers flew in an e-intentional look toward the Middle East at an Air Force base in Minot, North Dakota, USA, the U.S. Central Command said, in a second such force demonstration this month.
The U.S. recently said the December 20 rocket attack on Baghdad’s Green Zone was an Iranian-backed militia, with 21 rockets fired. No one was injured or killed.
Iranian Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif To tweet On Thursday, B-527 objected to the flights and wrote: “Iraq’s intelligence shows fabrication under the pretext of war.”
President Donald Trump was referring to the rocket attack that damaged the US Embassy in the Green Zone on December 23 Tweeted: “Some friendly health advice to Iran: If an American is killed, I will hold Iran accountable. Think about it.”
“We will be happy with the de-escalation,” the US official said on Thursday, continuing to watch the situation closely amid uncertainty.
Tensions have risen in the weeks leading up to Biden’s inauguration as president-elect, and the Iranian regime has sent clear signals that it wants to lift US sanctions – which could jeopardize the attack.
On Thursday, the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz was ordered to return to its U.S. homeport after 10 months of deploying horns in the Middle East and Africa, the Pentagon said.
“We continue to keep a close eye on Iran,” Chris Miller, acting secretary of defense, told NBC News in a statement late Thursday.
“While my hope is that we will enter 2021 peacefully and in conflict, the Department is ready to defend the American people and their interests.”
Phil Helsel Contributed.
