The US-Iran crisis has taken a new turn last week, after Donald Trump canceled a drone strike only ten minutes before it was planned.
While Iran was opening its doors to western businesses during the Obama era, including energy companies, airlines and luxury department stores, US sanctions passed by the Trump administration have crippled the country’s economy.
This year, diplomatic tensions between the United States and Iran only seem to have worsened. While Donald Trump reckoned Iran’s statement as “ignorant and insulting statement”, US warplanes were dispatched to Qatar over the weekend – which led experts to think a new war might be coming in the Middle East.
Will US troops be involved?
On Wednesday, Donald Trump confirmed that a conflict with Iran might be happening. He announced that “a war with Iran would not last very long”, while confirming ground troops will not be involved.
“I’m not talking boots on the ground”, Trump added. “I’m not talking, we’re going to send a million soldiers. I’m just saying if something would happen, it wouldn’t last very long”, reported the Washington Post.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard feasted on saffron chicken, exulting in downing an American drone. They first felt vindicated after some U.S. officials derided their military as all talk – and especially after President Trump called off an airstrike. https://t.co/igh9fkJCPh pic.twitter.com/gosD7iwAJj
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 22, 2019
During his last press conference, Donald Trump also mentioned his decision to cancel a drone strike after Iran shot down a US drone – which was a way for the middle eastern country to show its power – and its military abilities.
The US president explained that he would have felt “bad”, as the casualties of the drone could have killed about 200 civilians.
Read on Alvexo: “Iran Might Increase Its Uranium Enrichment”
Sanctions on top officials
As the diplomatic situation has escalated, the White House imposed new sanctions on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well as top officials.
Donald Trump explained that these new sanctions “will deny the Supreme Leader and the Supreme Leader’s office, and those closely affiliated with him and the office, access to key financial resources and support”.
Trump imposes new sanctions on Iran's supreme leader and other top officials, looking for a fresh blow to Iran’s economy after Tehran’s downing of an unmanned American drone https://t.co/84GFpMfJZd pic.twitter.com/oxt3vzu4ip
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 24, 2019
US Air Force dispatched F-22 fighters
Although earlier this week Washington confirmed that there would not be troops on the ground, a CNN report confirmed that the United States Air Force has deployed F-22 aircraft fighters to Qatar on Thursday.