US Weighs Strikes on Iranian Officials, Army Commanders
Iran experienced violent unrest earlier this month, with official data indicating that at least 3,000 people, including both security personnel and protesters, were killed. Tehran has accused the US and Israel of instigating the unrest, with the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declaring that the “Iranian nation [has] defeated the US” once calm was restored.
According to reports, the strikes against “high-value” Iranian targets could occur as early as this week. Discussions within the White House on potential action are described as “chaotic,” with debates focusing on the likely Iranian response, an unnamed Gulf official said.
In an interview with Axios on Monday, US President Donald Trump characterized the situation with Iran as remaining “in flux.” The Pentagon has deployed “a big armada” near the country, which he said is “bigger than Venezuela,” referring to the US naval buildup near South America that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
On the same day, US Central Command confirmed the arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group in the Middle East from the South China Sea.
Previous reports in mid-January indicated that a strike on Iran was “imminent,” though Trump later said he had called off the operation. As stated by reports, this decision was influenced by consultations with Gulf States and Israel.
Iran has issued stern warnings against “any miscalculations.” A senior Iranian official reportedly told news agencies that Tehran had notified neighboring countries that it could target US bases in the region if Washington carried out strikes. Following a US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities last June, Iran retaliated by striking the al-Udeid air base in Qatar, though the damage was limited due to advance warning given to US forces.
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