Manama: The US warned on Saturday that it is capable of deploying “heavy force” in the Middle East as it faces questions about its willingness to use its military might in the region.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Said Manama Dialogue If diplomacy does not stop in the capital of Bahrain, all options will remain open Irannuclear program, but he was also forced to refute claims that the US has become reluctant to use force.
NS pentagon The chief was asked why Washington did not respond to drone and artillery strikes on a base used by the US-led coalition last month Islamic State group in Syria.
“The United States of America reserves the right to defend itself. And we will defend ourselves and our interests, no matter what, at the time and place of our choosing,” he replied.
“And don’t let any country, any person, get wrong about it. We are committed to protecting ourselves and our interests, and that includes our allies,” Austin said.
“And we are also committed to not allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.”
Iran and world powers are set to hold talks on November 29 aimed at reviving a deal that has banned its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Tehran has always denied that it wants nuclear weapons.
Austin said Washington’s major goal was to strengthen its “unmatched” alliances in the Middle East, but added that military force remained an option with thousands of its troops stationed in the region.
The US is set to withdraw its combat troops from Iraq by the end of the year, after ending its 20-year occupation of Afghanistan in August.
This month, Iraq’s prime minister survived an assassination attempt two days after security forces clashed with supporters of Iran-backed parties that had lost support in recent elections.
On Saturday, Iran said it had seized a foreign boat smuggling diesel into the oil-rich Gulf.
Since February, Iran and Israel have been engaged in a “shadow war” in which ships belonging to each country have been attacked in the waters around the Gulf.
The US and Israel have accused Iran of using drones and missiles to destabilize the region.
In brief remarks to the forum, senior Saudi figure Turki bin Faisal Al Saud called for “protestant action” in the region, including the “total enforcement” of an arms embargo on Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, which the Saudi leadership fighting with. alliance.
Austin said that “the United States’ commitment to security in the Middle East is strong and certain.”
“Ultimately, our mission is to support diplomacy and prevent conflict and protect the United States and our vital interests,” he said. “If we were forced to turn back the aggression, we would win and we would win decisively.”
Austin’s visit comes days before talks with world powers on resuming Iran’s nuclear deal have been stalled since 2018, when the former US president Donald Trump walked away.
On Friday, US special envoy Robert Malley told the conference that the time to return to the deal was running out if Iran continued to “advance” its nuclear program.
“We are committed to the diplomatic outcome of the nuclear issue,” Austin said. “But if Iran is unwilling to engage seriously, we will consider all options necessary to keep the United States safe.”
Iran’s Gulf neighbors are concerned that concessions may be made to the Islamic Republic in nuclear talks.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Said Manama Dialogue If diplomacy does not stop in the capital of Bahrain, all options will remain open Irannuclear program, but he was also forced to refute claims that the US has become reluctant to use force.
NS pentagon The chief was asked why Washington did not respond to drone and artillery strikes on a base used by the US-led coalition last month Islamic State group in Syria.
“The United States of America reserves the right to defend itself. And we will defend ourselves and our interests, no matter what, at the time and place of our choosing,” he replied.
“And don’t let any country, any person, get wrong about it. We are committed to protecting ourselves and our interests, and that includes our allies,” Austin said.
“And we are also committed to not allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.”
Iran and world powers are set to hold talks on November 29 aimed at reviving a deal that has banned its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Tehran has always denied that it wants nuclear weapons.
Austin said Washington’s major goal was to strengthen its “unmatched” alliances in the Middle East, but added that military force remained an option with thousands of its troops stationed in the region.
The US is set to withdraw its combat troops from Iraq by the end of the year, after ending its 20-year occupation of Afghanistan in August.
This month, Iraq’s prime minister survived an assassination attempt two days after security forces clashed with supporters of Iran-backed parties that had lost support in recent elections.
On Saturday, Iran said it had seized a foreign boat smuggling diesel into the oil-rich Gulf.
Since February, Iran and Israel have been engaged in a “shadow war” in which ships belonging to each country have been attacked in the waters around the Gulf.
The US and Israel have accused Iran of using drones and missiles to destabilize the region.
In brief remarks to the forum, senior Saudi figure Turki bin Faisal Al Saud called for “protestant action” in the region, including the “total enforcement” of an arms embargo on Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, which the Saudi leadership fighting with. alliance.
Austin said that “the United States’ commitment to security in the Middle East is strong and certain.”
“Ultimately, our mission is to support diplomacy and prevent conflict and protect the United States and our vital interests,” he said. “If we were forced to turn back the aggression, we would win and we would win decisively.”
Austin’s visit comes days before talks with world powers on resuming Iran’s nuclear deal have been stalled since 2018, when the former US president Donald Trump walked away.
On Friday, US special envoy Robert Malley told the conference that the time to return to the deal was running out if Iran continued to “advance” its nuclear program.
“We are committed to the diplomatic outcome of the nuclear issue,” Austin said. “But if Iran is unwilling to engage seriously, we will consider all options necessary to keep the United States safe.”
Iran’s Gulf neighbors are concerned that concessions may be made to the Islamic Republic in nuclear talks.
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