Tensions have been high in the Middle East since The New York Times reported that President Trump reviewed options to strike an Iranian nuclear facility during an Oval Office meeting earlier this month.
Officials left the meeting assuming a military strike was off the table for now, but the president left other options open. Covert options like cyberattacks are certainly on the table for the US. Another possibility is that US allies in the region take it upon themselves to stir up a military confrontation with Iran.
Over the past week, Israel has stepped up its attacks inside Syria against what it calls Iranian-linked targets. Last week, Israel attacked a wide range of targets inside Syria and released a video of some of the strikes, a departure from the usual ambiguity surrounding Israeli airstrikes in Syria.
Last week’s strikes came after Israeli officials said explosives were found on the Israeli side of the border with Syria and claimed “Iranian-led” forces had planted them. Since then, several other Israeli attacks on Syria have been reported. The latest took place on Thursday morning. A UK-based monitor said 19 members of a Shia militia were killed.
For their part, Iran has been urging caution and is hoping to avoid a conflict. Iraqi officials told The Associated Press that Iran delivered a message to its allies in the region last week to be on high alert and avoid provoking tensions with the US. Sources told Middle East Eye that a top Iranian military officer, Brigadier General Ismail Qaani, delivered the message himself.
“Qaani made it clear that Trump wants to drag the region into an open war before leaving, to take revenge on his opponents over losing the election, and it is not in our interest to give him any justification to start such a war,” a top commander of a Shia militia in Iraq told Middle East Eye.
Israel seems eager to let the world know that they are preparing for a war with Iran. On Wednesday, Israeli officials told Axios that the Israeli military was preparing for a possible US strike on Iran, anticipating a “very sensitive period” before Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20th.
Another Israeli leak to the media that could have been a message to Iran was about a secret meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that took place on Sunday. Although Saudi Arabia denied it, Israeli officials publicly confirmed the meeting, and Saudi sources confirmed it with The Wall Street Journal.
According to reports, Netanyahu and MBS discussed Iran and a possible normalization agreement. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has made clear in recent comments that one of the primary purposes of the normalization deals between Arab countries and Israel is to isolate Iran.
Pompeo wrapped up a tour of Israel and some Gulf states on Sunday. During the trip, he was asked about the Times report and a possible military strike on Iran. Pompeo, and a State Department official traveling with him, said all options are on the table.
On Saturday, the US sent another message to Iran by deploying several B-52 bombers to the Middle East. Earlier, the US moved F-16 fighter jets from Germany to the UAE.
The Trump administration is planning to ramp up the pressure as much as possible on Iran in its final days. Elliot Abrams, the US envoy to Iran, said the administration plans to sanction Iran every week until January 20th. The idea is to sabotage Joe Biden’s plans to rejoin the 2015 nuclear deal.
“Qaani made it clear that Trump wants to drag the region into an open war before leaving, to take revenge on his opponents over losing the election, and it is not in our interest to give him any justification to start such a war,” a top commander of a Shia militia in Iraq told Middle East Eye.
The “no new wars” mantra is hanging by a thread. And funny how a Shia militia commander can see through the Don while his cult members continue to worship at the alter of Trumpism.
Let us not fixate on partisan politics. Trump this — Biden that.
Attacking or provoking Iran into fight is Trump’s “get out of jail” card. Destabilizing the smooth running of party duopoly is his greatest sin Trump committed. Questioning publicly the “deep state” and the swamp is unforgivable — both parties detested that.
Getting public to go along in zombified state with wars, interventions, containments, sanctions — was taken for granted for a long time. Only fringe was complaining. No more.
Thus — Trump can buy his post-presidential peace. No prosecutions or scandals. If he only provoked Iran into some kind of reaction. Biden needs it, so he will not be blamed for starting the war.
I did not hear Biden warning Trump, cautioning against moves that could result in conflict burdening his presidency.
Thus — some trouble is coming, but Trump may do one of the two things. Do little, and buy his freedom from prosecution. Or do something bigger – revenge time.
Nothing partisan about what I said. Trump is president. When Biden becomes president I will attack him likewise.
I wish it was this straight forward. This assumes that Presidents alone make decisions. It assumes the parties do not wheel and deal between themselves, and with the parallel government in corporate universe. There are many things at present they are negotiating over. Trump is hinting his concession. But all that means is — he has floated a deal, and expects positive response. If not, he can always go back to challenges.
Time to hold Biden’s feet to the fire is NOW. I do not see him protesting strenuously Trump’s unhinged Iran threats. I do not see him assembling teams of experts to asses global stability, as he claims to provide global leadership. He is allowed to just smile and be pretty — without taking any steps towards a change.
No, I do not trust either party. Especially those that seem to know what the world needs. Zealotry in their behavior, be that social norms or view of the world make me not trust a word they say.
But it all sounds like it is nit a big deal. Just give Iran a lesson.
Israel is doing everything possible to get US into war by provoking Iran. Assassinating a nuclear scientist. The sad thing is, this man has not been in the profession since early 2000. Rather easy target.
But anything to have US, like us, fight for them. Because diminishing Iran would mean an open season on Shia population. Primarily in Lebanon, as Israel has been eying the country for a long time.
Yes, our politicians are corrupt, and it is what it is.
I understand what you are saying. And agree. I saw “partisan” and (over)reacted to that.
Israel has not directly attacked Iranian soil or engaged Iranian troops in Iranian sovereign territory.
I think you’re overreacting to a psyop.
There’s actually no reason from Trump to attack Iran, with Israel or alone.
No, attacking Iran is not Trump’s ‘get out of jail card’, its a trap to condemn President Trump before the world community and his base and humiliate the Trumpian movement.
If Trump stays pure, and even if his Presidency does not survive the fraudulent election, he and the Trumpians have a moral victory and so a future as a political force, which the Deep State can’t stand and cannot allow to stand.
There is nothing to prosecute Trump for. Even Trump’s administration did not prosecute the
democratic leaders who generated false documents to commit FISA fraud and spy on his campaign. No different than Watergate.There is a tacit agreement,Presidents don’t prosecute those that came befor them
Stop showing how bad you need this new war from Trump; its unseemly.
Yeah I’d take Axios’ reporting with a huge grain of salt.
We are in the midst of a global pandemic and still the warmongers appetite for death and destruction has not been sated.
C’mon man….MIC heedless to pandemics
MY, MY…. Busy time for those on all sides of the P I I divide. Trump not sure how, what when to proceed to cement his anti Iran policies. If therẻ ever was a presidential policy which was driven by another state, it has to be the hyper bellicosity of Trump administration. Is, has, Iran done anything to get Americans so crazy, so as to make hurting Iran the top item on the list….?????? It’s all Netanyahu’z to hang onto power and make his criminal problems sunset.
G-d only knows if Trump’s love of his daughter drives the madness or some deals he has that profits his own pocket.
… Trump hasn’t done anything yet and Israel has always been attacking Iran in Syria.
amerikans have always been uncivilized imperialists–whether trump, Obama, Clinton, Jefferson, etc
Et tu Nuttyahoo? Well, no surprises.
Israel is making threats, but not taking any particularly new action against Iran. They will probably do the same for Biden-Harris if Trump does not take the bait.
Transparently looks like a DS psyop to goose Trump into making a new war, not unlike Nagorno-Karabakh was.
Figures they would want to humiliate Trump before dumping him, entering a new war and tarnishing his no new wars legacy. The leftists need this bad.
Still, its a gamble. Trump owes the Israel lobby nothing over failing to deliver the election, despite all his support. The Israel lobby has been no help in combating electoral fraud and securing the Electoral College. Nor would they have to deliver anything in return if Trump did sell his soul further.
Harris-Biden, meanwhile, will likely continue the disdainful relationship Nuttyahoo had with Obama. Nuttyahoo represents Israel; Globalists represent the European Zionist community, who will prioritize themselves over the U.S. and Israel.
At best, America is the attack dog, and Israel the pretext to sic it on Arabs and Persians as they need, not Israel needs.