U.S
By Bernard Moerdler,
U.S. Central Command has developed expanded plans for potential renewed strikes against Iran, including targets involving energy infrastructure and facilities critical to the Iranian economy, The New York Times reported Sunday, citing an official with direct knowledge of the military planning.
Senior U.S. officials also told the newspaper that President Donald Trump appears increasingly inclined toward another round of major strikes against Iran in private discussions, although he has publicly indicated that he does not intend to launch another offensive before the November 3 U.S. midterm elections.
The preparations come amid increasingly serious U.S. intelligence warnings that Iran is developing plans to attack American officials both in the Middle East and potentially inside the United States.
According to the Times, American intelligence officials are particularly concerned about possible assassination attempts against U.S. ambassadors in the Middle East and government officials on American soil. Several Iranian plots are assessed to have advanced beyond preliminary planning, although officials acknowledge that Tehran's ability to carry out attacks abroad remains uncertain.
Iranian officials, meanwhile, believe the United States and Israel are preparing another major offensive and have warned that renewed attacks could trigger retaliation against a wider range of targets throughout the region.
The New York Times reported that officials and diplomats are increasingly concerned about the possibility of a miscalculation, in which an attack or perceived threat against American personnel could trigger a much larger military confrontation.
Topics: Iran, Diplomacy
Reported by Bernard Moerdler for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.