A sudden White House announcement that a U.S. aircraft carrier and a bomber wing would be deployed in the Persian Gulf to counter Iran comes just days ahead of the anniversary of President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw America from Tehran's nuclear deal.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is said to be planning a speech Wednesday on the anniversary to discuss the next steps Tehran will take in confronting the U.S. Officials in the Islamic Republic previously warned that Iran might increase its uranium enrichment, potentially pulling away from a deal it has sought to salvage for months.
"The United States is not seeking war with the Iranian regime, but we are fully prepared to respond to any attack, whether by proxy, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or regular Iranian forces," Bolton said. A spokesman for Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Keivan Khosravi, also dismissed Bolton's comments as "psychological warfare."
It's unclear what specific threat American officials perceive coming from Iran. A U.S. official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said American troops at land and sea could be targeted. Already in the Persian Gulf is a group of U.S. Navy warships led by the USS Kearsarge, an amphibious assault ship carrying troops from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Kearsarge also carries AV-8B Harrier fighter jets, MH-60 helicopters and MV-22 Osprey airplanes.
It also remains unclear what bomber wing would be deployed to the region. Typically, the al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, home to the forward headquarters of the U.S. military's Central Command, hosts such bomber deployments.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
BoSox manager Cora won't visit White House - TSN.caBoston Red Sox manager Alex Cora will not attend the ceremony at the White House on Thursday honouring the 2018 World Series champions.
Read more »
White House to work on USMCA enforcement amid Democrats’ request, Larry Kudlow saysTrump’s economic adviser Larry Kudlow says the administration will work on a stronger enforcement mechanism for its replacement NAFTA trade deal
Read more »
Red Sox manager Alex Cora won't visit White House - Sportsnet.caBoston Red Sox manager Alex Cora cited the Trump administration's response to Hurricane Maria in his native Puerto Rico as the reason for his decision.
Read more »
U.S. working to designate Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, White House saysThe move would bring sanctions against Egypt’s oldest Islamist movement
Read more »
Possible attack on U.S. forces led to deployments in Middle East: AP sourceWASHINGTON — A White House decision to dispatch an aircraft carrier and other military resources to send a message to Iran followed “clear indications” that Iranian and Iranian pr…
Read more »
U.S. deploying carrier, bombers to Middle East in warning to Iran: BoltonAmid rising tensions between the United States and Iran, Bolton said the decision was ‘in response to a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings.’
Read more »
U.S. renews Iran sanctions waivers for civilian nuclear workThe waivers permit work at several Iranian nuclear sites to continue without U.S. penalties
Read more »
U.S. sends bomber task force as warning to ‘escalatory indications’ in IranThe U.S. also recently designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group, the first ever for an entire division of another government
Read more »
Nations using oil as a weapon threatens OPEC, Iran oil minister saysAnyone who uses oil as a political tool must also accept the consequences, Iran’s oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said
Read more »