CBS News revealed that the administration of US President Donald Trump was preparing on Friday to carry out a new round of military strikes against Iran, at a time when diplomatic efforts continue to reach an agreement to halt the escalation that has been ongoing for about three months.
The network quoted sources with direct knowledge of the ongoing discussions as saying that a final decision on carrying out the strikes had not been made as of Friday evening, but that military and security preparations had entered an advanced stage in anticipation of the possibility of the negotiations collapsing.
Trump announced via a social media post that he would be returning to the White House instead of spending Memorial Day at his resort in New Jersey, noting that “government-related circumstances” would even prevent him from attending his son’s wedding this week.
According to the sources, a number of US military and intelligence officials canceled their weekend plans in anticipation of possible new strikes against Iran, while the Departments of Defense and Intelligence began updating the call-up lists for US forces and facilities abroad, coinciding with the redeployment of some military units stationed in the Middle East, in a move aimed at reducing the US military presence in the region for fear of a possible Iranian response.
Since a temporary ceasefire began between Washington and Tehran in early April, the two sides have largely avoided direct attacks on each other, which has allowed for indirect negotiations on a long-term agreement, according to CBS News.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Trump “made his red lines very clear: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and it cannot keep enriched uranium.”
She added that “the president always retains all options, and the Pentagon’s job is to be prepared to implement any decision the commander-in-chief may make,” stressing that Trump “has been clear about the consequences if Iran fails to reach an agreement.”
In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned on Wednesday that any further attacks by the United States or Israel against Iran could expand the scope of the war beyond the Middle East, vowing to deliver “devastating strikes in unimaginable places.”
Tehran is currently considering the latest US proposal for an agreement to end the war that has disrupted energy markets and driven up global fuel prices. According to a source who spoke to CBS News, the proposal, delivered to Iran on Wednesday, also included a warning that rejecting what was described as the “final offer” would lead to a resumption of military strikes.
Trump said on Friday: “Iran is eager to make a deal, and we’ll see what happens.”
The US president had stated on Wednesday that he was prepared to give Tehran “two more days” to respond to the American offer, adding that his team was “relatively impressed” with the Iranian negotiators, but he stressed the need to obtain sufficient guarantees to prevent a future war.
Iran's response is expected to be conveyed through Pakistan, which is playing a key mediating role between the two sides. Before departing for India, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington expected to receive the Iranian response via the Pakistani marshal, who is leading the communication channels with Tehran on behalf of the Trump administration.
Rubio stressed that Trump “prefers diplomatic solutions to military strikes,” noting that progress has been made in negotiations, but “there is still more work to be done.”
He also revealed discussions held in Sweden with NATO members about the possibility of reopening the Strait of Hormuz by military force if Iran refuses to do so, a scenario he described as “Plan B.”
In Washington, House Republicans on Thursday abandoned an attempt to hold a vote restricting Trump's powers to launch military operations against Iran, after it became clear they did not have enough votes to prevent the resolution from passing.
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