Iran threatens to target American bases, the United States withdraws diplomatic personnel-Liberation
A fear of dangerous escalation. The United States announced on Wednesday, June 11, a reduction in the workforce of its Embassy in Iraq on Wednesday, June 11 for security reasons, while Iran threatened the American bases in the Middle East in the event of a conflict.
In case of failure Iranian nuclear program negotiationsif « One conflict is imposed on us, the other camp will certainly undergo more losses than us »launched the Iranian Minister of Defense, Aziz Nasirzadeh. « Their bases are within our reach » and « the United States will have to leave the region. »
« Based on our latest analysis, we decided to reduce the imprint of our mission in Iraq »said an American official on condition of anonymity. Also speaking under anonymity, a head of the State Department made a similar point, stressing that President Trump was « Determined to ensure the safety of the Americans, in the country and abroad ». « In accordance with this commitment, we permanently assess » The staff of American embassies, he justified.
In Baghdad, a senior Iraqi security official confirmed to AFP « A withdrawal from non-endive employees » of the American embassy. « We will work to prevent any attack on the embassy » American, said this official speaking on anonymity, evoking « Contacts » with pro-Iranian armed groups « To convince them not to shoot or target » diplomatic representation. The UKMTO maritime security agency, managed by the British navy, has published an information note alerting on « The rise in tensions » in the Middle East, likely to train « An escalation of military activities with a direct impact on sailors ».
The United States has many military bases in the vicinity of Iran, the most important being located in Qatar, where the siege of the central command of the American army in the Middle East (Centcom) is installed.
Iran and the United States, formerly close to allies but with knives drawn for four decades, have held in five cycles of nuclear traders since April under the Sultanate of Oman. New discussions are scheduled for Sunday, according to Iran. US President Donald Trump told him that this meeting would take place on Thursday, while the Omani mediator did not comment.
« I am much less confident (than before) to achieve an agreement »with Iran, said Donald Trump in a podcast of New York Postrecorded Monday and broadcast on Wednesday. « They seem to be procrastinating »underlined the American leader, who has several times threatened to attack Iran militarily in the event of a failure of diplomacy. “It would be better to do it without war. Without dead, it would be so much better « put forward the Republican Head of State, adding not « Not to see the same enthusiasm » Among the Iranians « To conclude an agreement ».
Both countries try to get along On a potential text that would prevent Iran from having atomic weapons – an ambition that Tehran fiercely defends himself from nourishing – in exchange for a lifting of sanctions which paralyze his economy. Discussions are upset in particular on the question of enrichment of uranium. The United States demands that Iran completely renounce it, while Tehran considers this request as non-negotiable, arguing that it is contrary to the Treaty of Nuclear Non-Proliferation (TNP) of which it is signatory.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (AIEA), Iran is the only state not endowed with nuclear weapons to enrich uranium at a high level (60 %), far beyond the 3.67 % limit set by the multilateral nuclear agreement concluded with Iran in 2015 but of which the United States has withdrawn. To make an atomic bomb, the enrichment must be pushed up to 90 %, according to the IAEA, the UN nuclear gendarme.
In 2018, Donald Trump had unilaterally removed his country and restored American sanctions against Iran. In retaliation, Tehran has in the process increases its nuclear program.
