Bolton warns Iran: Any attack in Persian Gulf will face ‘decisive’ U.S. response

John Bolton, national security advisor to President Trump, warned Iran that any attack in the Persian Gulf will face a “decisive” response from the United States.

According to Associated Press, Bolton, who traveled to the UAE, said: “The objective is to make clear to Iran and its proxy groups in the region that such actions carry the risk of a decisive response from the United States.”

The White House national security advisor had said the day before in the UAE that the agent behind the attack on commercial ships in Fujairah port waters was “almost certainly” Iranian naval mines.

John Bolton also added that the attack on commercial ships in Fujairah was related to the Houthi drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil transmission pipelines and the firing of a missile at Baghdad’s Green Zone near the U.S. embassy.

President Trump’s national security advisor traveled to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, for a new round of negotiations with officials of Arab countries. Bolton’s presence comes ahead of several emergency meetings of Persian Gulf and Arab countries regarding the actions and threats of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Over the past month, tensions between the Islamic Republic and the United States have increased. U.S. officials say they have information showing the danger of Iranian threats is more serious than before.

In mid-Ordibehesht, four ships in Fujairah port in the UAE were sabotaged, and then Saudi oil facilities were also attacked. Unlike the sabotage in Fujairah port whose perpetrators remained speculative, Yemen’s Houthis, who receive Iranian support, claimed responsibility for the attack on Saudi oil facilities.

On the evening of Sunday, 29th of Ordibehesht, local Iraqi time, it was announced that a rocket fired toward the heavily protected “Green” zone in Baghdad struck near the U.S. embassy.

The United States says that in preparation for a response in case of a possible attack by Iran or its proxy forces on American interests and those of its allies, it has increased U.S. military naval and air forces in the Persian Gulf.

The United States, by deploying the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Middle East, has strengthened its military deployment in the region in response to what has been described as concerning signs of Iran’s possible intent and preparation for attacks on American positions and forces.

Source: Voice of America