Iran has changed strategy as Trump’s 2020 chances rise
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re Iran and the United States headed for war?
There are conflicting signals. President Trump earlier this week said that he wants to avoid war with Iran, but if a war comes, it will mean Iran’s “end.” The Iranians too have declared that they don’t want a military conflict, but have reportedly told proxy forces to ready themselves for a protracted battle with the American enemy.
An American aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, earlier this week entered the Arabian Sea, where it is engaged in military exercises. Its arrival has already prompted Iran to remove some of the missiles it had been shuttling around in boats in the Persian Gulf.
All this military activity comes as the United States has ratcheted up sanctions on Iran’s oil and metal industries, closing off lucrative outlets for Iran’s economy. In response, Iran has threatened to quit the nuclear deal if conditions don’t improve. Israel is watching the developments closely. If shots are fired, it seems almost certain that Iran would try to entangle Israel in the conflict.
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