Reports indicate that residents across Iran have received an anonymous message stating: “The US President is a man of action, wait and see.” This message arrived amidst a series of US threats regarding a potential large-scale attack on Iran should diplomatic efforts fail, coinciding with thousands of students taking to the streets to commemorate victims of last month’s protests.
According to reports, US President Donald Trump informed his aides of his intention to study the possibility of a large-scale attack in the coming months to force Iranian leaders to step down if diplomacy fails. Although a final decision has not been made, the President is leaning towards a preemptive strike in the near future to compel Iranian leaders to negotiate and abandon their nuclear capabilities. Potential targets under review include the headquarters of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, nuclear sites, and missile program facilities.
Negotiators from both the United States and Iran are scheduled to meet in Geneva on Thursday in what appears to be final talks to prevent military conflict. Simultaneously, the US has bolstered its military presence, deploying 13 warships to the region, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The USS Gerald Ford is also steaming toward the eastern Mediterranean, while advanced fighter jets, refueling aircraft, and command and control assets have been deployed.
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized Iran’s “right to self-defense,” stating, “If the United States attacks us, it is an act of aggression… and our response will be justified and legitimate.” Araghchi hinted at the possibility of targeting US bases in the region in the event of an attack, while previously, Iranian officials had alluded to the option of closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy supplies.
