According to “NYT”, which cites American officials, after President Trump said on Wednesday that Iran had canceled the executions of protesters and stopped killing them, the Pentagon was ready to decide on the return of US soldiers to the al-Udeid base in Qatar, partially evacuated due to the possibility of an Iranian counterattack.
Similarly, the preparations of bombers in the United States were suspended and they were put on high alert for the second wave of strikes, writes “NYT”. The daily estimates that if Trump decides to launch a military attack, it will take place at least in a few days. The Pentagon allegedly presented Trump with a number of options, including strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities, missile installations, and cyberattacks against the security apparatus in Iran. However, the daily notes that the US capabilities are more limited than during the June war with Iran, because a significant number of ships and planes have been moved to the Caribbean Sea region.
According to NewsNation, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group stationed in the Pacific has been sent to the Middle East region, but it will take about a week.
NBC News also reported on Wednesday about Trump's doubts about the use of military force against Iran. According to her sources, Trump wanted any attack to be decisive and lead to the fall of the regime in Tehran, but the president's advisers were unable to assure him that the Islamic Republic would fall in the event of an attack. Another reason for concern is the scarcity of American forces in the region, which may not guarantee U.S. soldiers in the Middle East adequate protection against Iranian retaliation.
“This dynamic could lead Trump to approve a more limited U.S. military offensive in Iran, at least initially, while reserving the possibility of escalation — if he decides to take any military action,” NBC reports, citing the assessment of administration officials.
After Trump on Tuesday called on Iranians to continue protests and promised that “help is on the way,” the US president signaled on Wednesday that he was pleased with the Iranian regime's declaration to call off the executions of protesters. Trump also explained – using arguments used by the authorities in Tehran – that Iranian security forces were defending themselves against attacks using firearms from demonstrators.
When asked whether, in light of the information about the cancellation of the executions of prisoners in Iran, he would refrain from using force against the regime, the US president replied: – We will watch what the trial will look like. But we have received a very, very good statement from people who are aware of what is happening.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said on Wednesday in an interview for Fox News that the authorities in Iran do not intend to hang people.
In Wednesday's interview with Reuters, Trump also questioned whether the son of the deposed Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, who was positioning himself as the opposition leader, would be able to gain the support necessary to take power.
“I don't know if his country would accept his leadership, but if it did, I wouldn't mind,” he said. When asked whether the regime in Tehran would fall, he replied that any regime could fall. “Whether it falls or not, it will be an interesting time,” he said.
