Security officials in the United States and other Western countries appear increasingly concerned about attacks by Iranian proxies on U.S. targets in Europe and the Middle East. The New York Times reports evidence of the planning and coordination of attacks. However, concrete plans have not yet been discovered.
However, it is possible that Iran will instruct sleeper cells of Hezbollah or Al-Qaeda or their affiliates to attack American bases or embassies. A senior US official told the New York Times that government analysts were tracking numerous activities and plans.
Colin P. Clarke, executive director of the Soufan Center, an intelligence and consulting firm in New York, told the newspaper: “If the U.S. military campaign against Iran is vital to the Supreme Leader and the most senior members of the Revolutionary Guard, I would fully expect Tehran to order terrorist attacks abroad, including in Europe.”
Russia and Iran have apparently concluded a secret arms deal worth around 500 million euros. Russia is said to be selling thousands of shoulder-launched missiles to Iran, reports the Financial Times newspaper. Specifically, the contract will cover the delivery of 500 portable “Verba” launch units and 2,500 9M336 surface-to-air missiles. There are also 500 “Mowgli-2” night vision devices for tracking aircraft and other targets in the dark. Read more about it here.
According to a report in the New York Times, US President Donald Trump made it clear in the White House on Wednesday that if the nuclear negotiations with Iran failed, he would not only consider targeted military strikes, but later also a large-scale attack to overthrow the leadership in Tehran.
New talks between negotiators from both countries are scheduled for Thursday in Geneva – according to observers, this may be the last chance to prevent a military escalation. However, Trump has already had options examined internally if Iran is not prepared to completely abandon its nuclear program. Advisers say he is leaning towards an early, limited strike to force Tehran to give in.
The headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards, nuclear facilities in the country and the Iranian missile program are considered possible targets. If such attacks do not produce the desired result, according to people in the know, Trump has left it open to considering a more comprehensive military action later this year with the aim of forcing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from office. There are doubts even within the US government as to whether such a change of power can be achieved through air strikes alone.
