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Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday accused Donald Trump of trying to fabricate a pretext to attack Iran and said Tehran would defend itself strongly.
Furthermore, a military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader warned Trump “not to turn the New Year into mourning for the Americans.”
Zarif said in a tweet: “Instead of fighting Covid in the US, @RealDonaldTrump and his cohorts waste billions to fly B52s and send armadas to OUR region. Iraqi intelligence services indicate a plot to MAKE a pretext for war.
The US military flew two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Middle East in a deterrent message to Iran on Wednesday, but the bombers have since left the region.
The Pentagon announced Thursday that the aircraft carrier Nimitz, which was off the coast of Somalia, would return to its home port. The carrier had previously operated in the Middle East and some US officials said the move could be seen as an attempt to reduce tensions in the region.
In recent days, concern and vigilance has grown over what Iranian-backed forces might do in the run-up to the anniversary of the January 3 US drone strike in Iraq that killed senior Iranian General Qassem Suleimani, the official said.
Washington blames the Iranian-backed militia for regular rocket attacks on US facilities in Iraq, including near the embassy. No known Iranian-backed group has claimed responsibility.
Iran is preparing to hold events marking the anniversary of Suleimani’s assassination.
“Iran does not seek war, but will OPENLY and DIRECTLY defend its people, security and vital interests,” Zarif wrote.
Hossein Dehghan, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s military adviser, said on Twitter: “I saw on the news that the Americans are on alert for fear of revenge (for the murder of Suleimani) and have flown two B-52 bombers over the Persian Gulf. “
“All their military bases in the region are covered by our missiles. I advise the evicted from the White House (Trump) not to turn the New Year into mourning for Americans, ”said Dehghan, a former defense minister.
Earlier this week, a US military official close to the situation told reporters that the United States had detected indications that Iran had made preparations for possible attacks on US or allied targets in Iraq or elsewhere in the Middle East.
Trump recently cited “talk” that Iran might strike. Days after a December 20 rocket attack on the U.S. embassy complex in Baghdad by Iran-backed Shiite militia groups, Trump tweeted that Iran was on notice.
“A friendly health advice for Iran: If an American dies, I will hold Iran responsible. Think about it, ”Trump wrote on December 23. He added: “We hear talks about additional attacks on Americans in Iraq.”
