America is secretly preparing for a nearly imminent military strike against Iran, providing a jolt of added tension to already heightened Middle East tensions.Â
According to stories inside the state, US officials have been preparing for potential action, with increasing evidence that a choice could be made at any moment.
Bloomberg cited a chain of insiders asserting that some federal agencies already have contingency plans in place, which demonstrates growing unease among the US foreign policy and defense establishments. Even though the decision has not been made yet, the insiders involved in the talks reported that the military intervention would begin as early as this weekend if the situation on the ground deteriorates further.
President Trump was going on at length about remembering direct action. During an appearance on Wednesday before White House reporters, he indicated he had “ideas” as to what he would do, but always stated he reserved the ultimate decision in his heart until the last minute by invoking the uncertainty of the politics of today’s world. Earlier today, after asking if he was preparing to fight a war, the President made this enigmatic statement: “I may do it. I may not do it.”
This ominous but conditional Washington language is a departure from last week’s tone by Trump, who continued to insist on diplomatic talks and even a nuclear agreement with Iran. The departure is a sign that the US government has its patience wearing thin following Iran’s increased military presence in the current conflict against Israel.
The hold on any immediate attack is a step for measured intent, analysts suppose, since it leaves Iran with only a brief space of time to turn diplomatically and show Iran’s willingness to retreat. The US is still able to remain restraint-bound, insiders inform us, if Iranian commanders commit to pulling back on key elements of their nuclear program, most notably uranium enrichment work.
With threats of war hanging over it, Iran remains committed to diplomacy. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reassured on social media Wednesday that Iran has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons and remains committed to peaceful negotiations. He did this before the scheduled session in Geneva, where British, French, and German diplomats will meet their Iranian counterparts to discuss nuclear issues.
However, all those talks are in the wake of US military action, and there are doubts about whether talks can win them meaningful concessions prior to a strike being approved. The doubt has already begun to stun financial markets worldwide. Stocks fell in Asia following Washington’s build-up report, with key indexes falling as much as 0.7 percent, as investors became increasingly anxious.
The US-Iran dynamic is precarious. Incremental diplomacy accelerated with dizzying rapidity to the brink of out-and-out war. While US officials continue to insist that “all options are on the table,” signals of Washington’s preparedness indicate that force is no longer an abstract option; it is a starkly real one.
With the world in suspense and tensions elevated, the next few days will decide whether diplomacy will succeed for the first time or if the world will have to go through another devastating war. One fact is sure: high stakes are involved internationally, and time is fast.
