Iranian naval forces have increased combat readiness in the Persian Gulf, reports CNN, citing a source familiar with the latest US intelligence data.
It is noted that the military activity of Iran is intensifying on the eve of the anniversary of the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani. Earlier this week, Pentagon officials Pentagon said Tehran is deploying short-range ballistic missiles to Iraq.
“Iran poses a real threat to US national security, especially during this period of heightened risk with the upcoming anniversary of Soleimani’s assassination,” said former National Security Council official Sam Vinograd.
According to CNN, it is not yet clear to the American authorities whether Iran’s actions are defensive or speak of a possible upcoming attack. At the same time, the intelligence service does not consider the actions of the Iranian military to be typical for ordinary training.
Earlier, in December, the Pentagon strengthened its military base Ain al- Assad in Iraq. Experts associate this with the anniversary of the assassination of Soleimani and the upcoming inauguration of the US President-elect Joe Biden .
Suleimani died in Baghdad on January 3, 2020 in a rocket attack from the United States. Together with the general, several officers accompanying him and the deputy commander of the Iraqi Shiite militia, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, were killed. In response, Tehran fired dozens of missiles at American targets in Iraq on the night of January 8. The operation that took place was named “Martyr of Suleimani”. The United States declared no casualties and minimal damage to military bases.
The Pentagon stated that the order for the assassination of Soleimani was personally issued by the President Donald Trump a>. This idea to the American leader could have been submitted by the Secretary of State Michael Pompeo . The US believed the general was involved in the attacks on coalition bases and the US embassy in Baghdad.