Washington: The US and Iran came close to a full blown war after the US President, Donald Trump, ordered an airstrike at three sites in Iran. However, the President called of the strikes just moments before the attack thus averting a possible full blown war between the two countries.
The US airstrikes was ordered in retaliation against Iran shooting down an American surveillance drone which flew above Iran’s airspace.
Donald Trump revealed on Friday that he had ordered a retaliation against Iran but backed off from it after he was told that the air strikes would kill 150 Iranians. He said that 150 death for an unmanned drone was not proportional.
In a tweet, the US President said, ” On Monday they shot down an unmanned drone flying in International Waters. We were cocked and loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone.”
However, he said that he was not in a hurry and was confident about the readiness of the US military. He said that fresh sanctions were added against Iran since last night. He also claimed that Iran will not have nuclear weapons.
President Donald Trump did not forget to attack Barrack Obama for the deal he had struck with Iran, which had helped Iranians reach this far.
The President’s tweet read, ” “President Obama made a desperate and terrible deal with Iran – Gave them 150 Billion Dollars plus I.8 Billion Dollars in CASH! Iran was in big trouble and he bailed them out. Gave them a free path to Nuclear Weapons, and SOON”.
“Instead of saying thank you, Iran yelled Death to America. I terminated deal, which was not even ratified by Congress, and imposed strong sanctions. They are a much weakened nation today than at the beginning of my Presidency, when they were causing major problems throughout the Middle East. Now they are Bust!”
Iran says that it had shot down a US Air Force Global Hawk unmanned drone because it had violated its airspace. After the attack the US identified three sites to attack including Iran’s S-125 Neva/Pechora missile system which is believed to have downed the drone.
Tensions between the US and Iran escalated when two oil tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman last week. The US had blamed Iran for the sabotage but the Islamic country had denied its involvement.
Things seemed to go out of control after Iran shot down the US drone, which led to the President ordering an airstrike at Iranian missile systems. However, sanity prevailed and both sides seems to have backed off a little which gives hope that the dangerous stand-off might ease in the coming days.
