According to the head of the US Central Command, Washington should start to use “military means” against Iran, which is “the greatest long-term threat to stability” in the Middle East.
General Joseph Votel (Photo: The Washington Times / Manuel Balce Ceneta)
The US needs to consider opportunities of usage of “military means” against Iran, as the country is “destabilizing” the region, using “lethal aid facilitation,” as well as “surrogate forces” and cyber operations, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), General Joseph Votel, said on Wednesday, speaking before the House Armed Services Committee. Earlier, Votel called Tehran “the greatest long-term threat to stability” in the Middle East.
“I believe that Iran is operating in what I call a gray zone, and it’s an area between normal competition between states – and it’s just short of open conflict,” Votel said.
“We need to look at opportunities where we can disrupt [Iran] through military means or other means their activities,” he added. “We need to look at opportunities where we can expose and hold them accountable for the things that they are doing.”
In his speech, the US General also mentioned the recent surge in Iran-US military encounters in the Persian Gulf and noted that his team was “paying extraordinarily close attention” to the issue. Vessels of the US Navy have been several times forced to change their course due to actions of the Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)’s Navy. The last of such encounters occurred earlier this month, when a ship of the US Navy and three boats of the British Royal Navy went off their course and came within 550 meters of IRGC vessels.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump accused Iran of supporting terrorism and said that “nothing is off the table” in terms of a response to the country’s defensive missile program. The US President also noted that his administration formally put Tehran “on notice” over its missile test.
Is this not proof that CENTCOM has not and will not do what it has claimed, fight ISIS? They are doing what Saddam Hussein tried to do in the ’80s. Support to anti-Iran Kurds and Balochis to fracture the new country. But the US must understand that just because you recently became friends with Russia, doesn’t mean you have a green light to fight Iran.
So far they’ve not exactly shown much friendly behavior towards Russia. Only a continual torrent of Russian hacking allegations and other accusations. Not much seems to be changing in the US behavior towards Russia. Neither has the flow of weapons to Jihadists in Syria been stopped. The only thing we can say that things would probably have been a lot worse if Hillary had been in charge.
As for this Iran is the enemy bullshit, this proves how much influence countries like KSA have bought in Washington and the power of the pro-Israel lobby. Iran only has influence in Shia countries, Iranian sponsored proxies are not causing problems with the West and in the West. The guy who drove his car into bystanders in London was not inspired and brainwashed by Iran.
The Trump government has so far been a giant let down, and it remains to be seen how much longer the argument that Hillary would have been a lot worse will fly. It’s sad to see a great nation like the US be in thrall to the foreign policy interests of Israel and KSA, which are ultimately contrary to the US itself.
They are afraid at how powerful Iran is getting. They won’t care touch Iran without Russia getting involved!
Sad to disagree , they don’t care about Russia , look at Syria , Russia’s ally . Less than a year ago they had no troops in the country , now they hold almost half ( after they jump into Dier Azzor ) . Russia , Iran and China best step up to the plate and fully support Syria , now .
oops i meant to say dare, not care
No, absolutely not. Anyone who dare tries to even lay a finger on Iran will get manhandled by russia
no need for Russia, Iran is powerful enough to counter any US aggression
I know, I’m just saying if they need it, it is there
USA/Nato create only chaose all over the world for their bankruptcy shake.creating unfinnished wars and multiplying terrorism.None NATO member countries should refused to combat terrorism if their attack NATO countries.
Another Dr Strangelove creeps out from under the stones in the Pentagon.
So then if we believe this, then it is not Israel, Saudi Arabia, the US and GB who are destabilizing nation after nation in conducting a series of regime changes in the Levant? Gee, I must have been misinformed by the independent internet media all these years, which coincidentally people like Votel would like to shut down.
Well done. Here are your brownie points for ass-kissing the jews. Keep them in a safe place.
Really, Iran destabilising the middle east? Pathetic pathological liars are people who lie to an extant that they end up believing in their own lies.
they misspelled Saudi Arabia
This guy really looks like a demon who sucks human blood.