An Iranian military general told the British Telegraph on Saturday that any American attack would be answered by military action against a British base in the tiny island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, used by the U.S. military, and reportedly housing at least five B-2 stealth bombers that were moved there.
“There will be no distinction in targeting British or American forces if Iran is attacked from any base in the region or within the range of Iranian missiles,” the general said. “When the time comes, it won’t matter whether you’re an American, British, or Turkish soldier – you will be targeted if your base is used by Americans.”
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תצלום לוויין ארה"ב מתגברת כוחות באוקיינוס ההודי בקרבת איראן ו תימןתצלום לוויין ארה"ב מתגברת כוחות באוקיינוס ההודי בקרבת איראן ו תימן
Satellite images shows US military buildup in the Indian Ocean
Similar threats were made in Iranian media outlets, including the threat of a ballistic missile strike and suicide drones targeting the base.
"The decision is not mine to make, but its implementation is," he said. He claimed Israel sought to control the region and Saudi Arabia and Iraq were parts of the Israeli plan. Tangsiri said he was aware of Trump's threats and was preparing for confrontation.
Israeli officials recently discussed how the Trump administration would respond to the Americanpresident's ultimatum to the Tehran regime, warning that failing to reach a diplomatic agreement on their nuclear program would result in military action.
Iran threatens Iran of "bad things" if they fail to reach a new nuclear deal
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If we don't work it out, bad, bad things are going to happen to Iran," Trump said on Friday. "I sent them a letterjust recently, and I said: you have to make a decision, one way or the other, and we either have to talk and talk it out or very bad things are going to happen to Iran," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "I don't want that to happen. My big preference -- and I don't say this through strength or weakness -- my big preference is, we work it out with Iran.
Officials in Israel believe that Iran and the U.S. would hold indirect talks over the coming months that would determine whether a new nuclear deal would be made but are preparing for the possibility that the talks would fail.
Meanwhile, Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer was in Washington for talks with administration officials. Israel says thecurrent administration has shown a greater determinationto reach a deal, but has also given a clear indication that a military option is on the table, after the buildup of military forces in the Indian Ocean.
After Iran lost its main proxies in the region, the officials in both capitals believe the Iranians may expedite their rush to obtain a nuclear weapon. Recent American intelligence evaluations claimed Iran could produceenough weapons-grade uranium for a nuclear devicein less than a week.