Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Trump Considers Military Actions against Tehran


Mon 17 Jun 2019 | 05:56 AM
Nawal Sayed

As US-Iran tensions are rising, a U.S. official revealed Sunday that military options against Iran are being considered by President Donald Trump.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in an interview on CBS “Face the Nation”, that the United States is considering a full range of options regarding rising tensions with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“The U.S. is considering a full range of options…We are confident that we can take a set of actions that can restore deterrence which is our mission set," Pompeo added.

When asked if a military response was included in that set of actions, Pompeo responded, "Of course."

[caption id="attachment_57367" align="aligncenter" width="800"]FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives to hold a classified briefing on Iran, with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford and acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, for members of the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. May 21, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives to hold a classified briefing on Iran, with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford and acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, for members of the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. May 21, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo[/caption]

However, he emphasized that Trump has said that he does not want to go to war.

"The President will consider everything we need to do to make sure, right? But what's the President said? We don't want Iran to get a nuclear weapon," Pompeo manifested.

US-Iran tensions are high following accusations by the Trump administration that Tehran carried out attacks last Thursday on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, a vital oil shipping route.

Saudi joined US in blaming Iran

Two days after the Gulf’s attacks, Saudi Arabia joined the United States in blaming Iran for the attacks and called for the international community to take swift action to secure Gulf energy supplies.

The Strait of Hormuz is a major transit route for oil from Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude exporter, and other Gulf producers.

[caption id="attachment_57368" align="aligncenter" width="638"]An oil tanker is seen after it was attacked at the Gulf of Oman An oil tanker is seen after it was attacked at the Gulf of Oman, in waters between Gulf Arab states and Iran, June 13, 2019. ISNA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES[/caption]

Roughly 30% of the world's sea-borne crude oil passes through the strategic choke point, making it a flashpoint for political and economic friction, according to a report published by the CNN.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has also blamed Iran for the attacks on the ships. He called on the international community to take a "firm stand towards an exponential regime that supports terrorism and spreads killing and destruction."

US drone shot down in Yemen

Houthi rebels in Yemen recently shot down a U.S. government-operated drone with assistance from Iran, the U.S. military said in a statement on Sunday, according to Reuters.

Lt. Col. Earl Brown, a spokesman for the U.S. Central Command, said the altitude at which the MQ-9 drone was shot down on June 6 marked "an improvement over previous Houthi capability," a fact that led the military to conclude the rebel group had help from Iran.

[caption id="attachment_57369" align="aligncenter" width="800"]U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles conduct a combat air patrol within the U.S. Central Command area, in Arabian Gulf U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles conduct a combat air patrol within the U.S. Central Command area, in Arabian Gulf, June 2, 2019. Picture taken June 2, 2019. Sgt. Keifer Bowes/U.S. Navy/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS- THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.[/caption]

Brown also noted that on June 13, Iran separately tried to shoot down yet another U.S. drone over the Gulf of Oman in an effort to disrupt surveillance of Iran's attack on Kokuka Courageous, one of two oil tankers attacked on Thursday.

Therefore, Washington keeps blaming Tehran for many attacks in the recent days, raising fears about a potential confrontation between the United States and Iran.

US-Iran Tensions: Iran categorically denies claims

On its part, Iran has categorically denied having any role.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said Sunday -- before Pompeo's interviews aired -- that the United States may have carried out "acts of sabotage" against two oil tankers in the Sea of Oman to lay blame on Iran and pressure Tehran.

Larijani mocked remarks by Pompeo, who urged Iran to "meet diplomacy with diplomacy."

Iran will release "significant" information on Monday regarding the scaling back of its commitments to the nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), according to Iran's semi-official news agency, Tasnim on Sunday.