Iran says U.S. move against it would face 'crushing' response
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[November 17, 2020]
DUBAI/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Any U.S.
attack on Iran would face a "crushing" response, an Iranian government
spokesman said on Tuesday, following reports U.S. President Donald Trump
asked for options for a strike on Iran's main nuclear site last week but
decided against doing so.
"Any action against the Iranian nation would certainly face a crushing
response," spokesman Ali Rabiei said, in remarks streamed on an official
government website.
Citing a U.S. official, Reuters reported on Monday that Trump, with two
months left in office, conferred with top advisers about the possibility
of attacking the Natanz uranium enrichment plant - but was dissuaded by
them from that option.
One of the advisers named in the report, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo,
is on Wednesday due to visit Israel, which has long hinted at possible
military action against its arch-enemy Iran.
"If I were the Iranians, I would not feel at ease" after the report,
Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said, adding that he was not
aware of the Oval Office deliberations last Thursday.
"It is very important that the Iranians know that if, indeed, they
suddenly dash toward high levels of enrichment, in the direction of
nuclear weaponry, they are liable to encounter the military might of the
United States - and also, perhaps, of other countries," Steinitz told
Israel's Army Radio.
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An Iranian flag is pictured near in a missile during a military
drill, with the participation of Iran’s Air Defense units, Iran
October 19, 2020. Picture taken October 19, 2020. WANA (West Asia
News Agency) via REUTERS
Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful needs. Rabiei
accused Israel of "psychological warfare" against Iran.
"I personally don't foresee that it's probable that they (the United
States) would want to cause insecurity in the world and the region,"
Rabiei said.
(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom and Dan Williams in Jerusalem; Editing
by Catherine Evans and Alex Richardson)
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