US has robust military options to stop Iran: CENTCOM Chief General McKenzie

Washington: – Even though US President Joe Biden’s administration has begun talks on a nuclear deal with Iran, the US military is signalling that it has not abandoned the idea of Use of the military option against Iran. General Frank McKenzie, head of the US CENTCOM said, ‘The United States has ‘robust range of military options’ to thwart Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program’. A few days ago, a US official told the International Atomic Energy Agency that US and Israeli warplanes would conduct joint exercises to launch attacks on Iran’s nuclear projects.

Speaking to a British newspaper, General Frank McKenzie, the Chief of the US Central Command-CENTCOM, clarified the US position on Iran in the Middle East. ‘The main purpose of the US participation in the Vienna talks is to resolve the issue of Iran’s nuclear program through political negotiations. This is the right path for political dialogue, and Iran should take cognisance of this fact,’ said McKenzie.

At the same time, the Chief of CENTCOM warned that Iran was making a mistake in underestimating the United States. ‘If Iran thinks that it can participate in the nuclear talks while continuing its attacks on US military bases in Iraq and Syria, then Iran is underestimating the United States. The United States can take military action if the need arises,’ said General McKenzie.

At the same time, General McKenzie said that the United States was aware of the threat posed to the security of the Middle East by Iranian-linked terrorist groups. The CENTCOM chief recalled that the United States sent the right message to Iran by conducting joint patrols in the region with fighter jets from Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt only a few weeks ago.

Political developments in the Middle East have accelerated since talks began in Vienna between the United States and Iran to revive the nuclear deal. Saudi Arabia‘s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has already started a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states tour. Saudi media say Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is meeting with Arab heads of state to discuss Iran’s growing influence in the Middle East.

Whereas Israel has openly stood against Iran. Israeli leaders are urging the Biden administration to do the same. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid demanded, during a meeting with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, not to withdraw sanctions on Iran, even the Biden administration intends to enter into a nuclear deal with Iran.