The United States is prepared for a ‘weeks-long’ campaign in Iran if the two sides fail to agree a deal, two sources have said. It comes as asecond American aircraft carrier drew closer to the Middle East, with both the US and Iran signalling they areprepared for warif talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme fizzle out.
US PresidentDonald Trumpsaid he believes 10 to 15 days is “enough time” for Iran to reach a deal. Insiders toldReutersthat a US strike would be unlikely to take the form of a short, surgical operation, as was seen last year in the bombing of an Iranian nuclear facility but rather a sustained campaign lasting weeks, effectively amounting to open warfare. The movements ofadditional American warships and airplanes, with the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier near the mouth of theMediterranean Sea, do not guarantee a US strike on Iran — but it bolsters Mr Trump’s ability to carry out one should he choose to do so.
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Last month, Mr Trump announced that a “beautiful armada” had set sail for the Middle East as he urged Tehran to make a deal with the United States.
He has so far held off on striking Iran after setting red lines over the killing of peaceful protesters and mass executions, while reengaging in nuclear talks that were disrupted by the war in June.
This week, Iran announced the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday for live fire military drills in a rare show of force as its negotiators held another round of indirect talks with the US in Geneva over its disputed nuclear programme.
As the talks began, Iran’s state media announced that it had fired live missiles towards the Strait and would close it for several hours for “safety and maritime concerns”.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei meanwhile warned that “the strongest army in the world might sometimes receive such a slap that it cannot get back on its feet”.
Iran’s foreign minister later adopted a different tone, expressing optimism about the talks and saying “a new window has opened” for reaching an agreement.
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
