saber-rattling between the US and Iran continues

Washington / Tehran. The situation in the Gulf region is tense. The US put their troops in the region on high alert. However, they do not agree with their allies about the Iranian threat.

Despite widespread protestations about wanting to avoid a war with Iran, the saber rattling continues. The US armed forces raised the alarm for their anti-terrorist forces in the region, as announced on Tuesday. There are credible threats from Iran-backed forces. Previously, British Vice Commander of Anti-IS operation, Inherent Resolve, said there were no signs of such an increased threat.

US forces responded promptly, saying that this assessment was not in line with US intelligence and its allies' intelligence. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said when leaving Russia that there is currently no new evidence on the threat scenario. "I think in the coming hours and days we will have the answer (...)."

Previously, in the conflict between the US and Iran, both sides had pledged not to want a war. Both Washington and Tehran relentlessly defended their positions on Tuesday. The administration of US President Donald Trump again issued a warning to Iran. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during a visit to Russia that his country does not want a war against Iran. "We want Iran to behave like a normal country." But if American interests were attacked, then the US would defend itself.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made it clear on the same day that his country was not interested in negotiations with the US. "Neither we want a war nor do we want that (USA), so it will not happen," said Khamenei on state television. However, Iran has chosen "the path of resistance" in the conflict with the US, because negotiations with Washington are "like a poison".

The tensions between the two countries had increased massively in recent days. US President Trump advises Iran to stir up unrest in the region and support terrorism. Among other things, the US Department of Defense had sent an aircraft carrier and a bomber squadron to the Middle East, stating that it had indications that Iran could attack US troops.

The situation was additionally heated by acts of sabotage in the Gulf region. In Saudi Arabia, one of the country's key oil pipelines was hit by explosive-laden drones on Tuesday - possibly by Yemeni Houthi rebels. They are supported by Iran. Sabotage on oil tankers had been reported at the weekend from the neighboring United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to government sources, two pumping stations in the East-West pipeline in the center of the Arab kingdom were attacked in the incident in Saudi Arabia. Seven drones had carried out attacks against important targets in Saudi Arabia, reported the Yemeni media company Al-Masirah with reference to military circles of the Houthis. The media company is under the control of the rebels. A Houthi spokesman described the attacks as retaliation for the attacks of Saudi Arabia in Yemen. Iran and US-backed Saudi Arabia are archenemies.

For safety reasons, the operation of the pipeline in Saudi Arabia, which is particularly important for the oil transport to Europe and the US, has been suspended, said the state-owned energy company Saudi Aramco. There have been no casualties and only minor damage to property.

Iranian Foreign Minister Jawad Sarif warned of developments in the face of escalation. "We had already foreseen that such dubious incidents could happen to provoke tensions in the region," he said, according to Iran's state-run news agency Irna.

Meanwhile, US President Trump denied a report on a massive deployment of soldiers into the region. The New York Times had written that the US was testing the deployment of 120,000 troops in the Middle East in case Iran accelerates to nuclear weapons or attacks on US forces. Trump called this "Fake News". Trump said, "Would I do that? Absolute. But we did not plan that. Hopefully we will not have to plan that. And if we had to, we'd damn well send more troops. "

source : www.noz.de