US-Iranian escalation ... mutual threats and options on the table

US Central Command, "Santcom", announced that the missile attacks that targeted the US embassy in Baghdad, last Sunday, were carried out by "Iranian-backed militias."

US Army Central Region Command said in a statement that the attacks that did not result in any human casualties caused damage to the buildings of the US embassy compound in Baghdad, noting that the embassy was targeted with 21 missiles.

The statement, which was distributed to the journalists, the spokesperson for the Central Command of the US Army, Captain Bill Urban, stated that Iran supports and directs these groups, which are active in the interest of Tehran, and at the expense of Iraqi sovereignty.

Orban concluded the statement by saying: The United States will hold Iran accountable for the killing of any American as a result of the activity of these Tehran-backed militias.

In his turn, US President Donald Trump accused Iran of being involved in the missile attacks that targeted the US embassy in Baghdad, and warned it that he would hold it responsible in the event that any American was killed there.

On his Twitter page, Trump posted pictures of three missiles, and said: “Our embassy in Baghdad was hit on Sunday, by several missiles, three missiles failed. See where did they come from? (Who) Iran? … Now we hear about additional attacks against the Americans in Iraq. "

And the US President added: "Some friendly health advice to Iran: If an American was killed there, I would hold Iran responsible, think twice."

In its turn, the Iranian Foreign Ministry warned the United States against stirring up tension and committing any dangerous adventures in the last days of President Donald Trump's administration in the White House.

State Department considered that Trump and the US Central Command's accusations of Iran of being behind the recent missile attacks on the Green Zone in Baghdad are repeated and unfounded, and are fabricated and aim to cover up the difficult circumstances that Trump is going through, stressing that the United States bears responsibility for the repercussions of any escalation in current conditions.

 Iranian Foreign Ministry also renewed its rejection of any targeting of diplomatic missions and residential areas in Iraq, and said: The United States and its allies seek to increase tension and spark new discord in the region.

And added, "Iran's response to the American terrorist measures will be clear, courageous and at an appropriate level, and not by targeting diplomatic missions and residential areas ... The United States must use more logical scenarios to justify the discord it seeks in the region."

A senior US administration official revealed yesterday that senior national security officials met to discuss several options to deter Iran and its proxies from attacking US military and diplomats in Iraq.

T/S

ANHA