Iran 'threat' has diminished, says US defense secretary

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Iran 'threat' has diminished, says US defense secretary

• Patrick Shanahan credits US show of force
• Remarks appear to be a sign tension is easing

Julian Borger in Washington and Patrick Wintour in London
Tue 21 May 2019 18.11 BST Last modified on Tue 21 May 2019 21.57 BST

The acting US defence secretary has claimed that the alleged threat from Iran has receded as the result of an American show of force in the Middle East.

“We’ve put on hold the potential for attacks on Americans,” Patrick Shanahan told reporters before briefing Congress on the situation in the Persian Gulf and the military deployments that the US said were a response to a danger of imminent attack.

The arrival of an aircraft carrier and its accompanying ships was recently accelerated, and B-52 bombers were sent to Qatar. Tensions increased with mysterious sabotage attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf, and drone strikes on Saudi oil installations, claimed by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Nerves in the region were put even more on edge on Sunday by Donald Trump’s tweeted threat that any conflict with the US would mean “the official end of Iran”.

The remarks from Shanahan appeared to be a sign that tensions were easing.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/21/iran-us-latest-news-threat-diminished-says-defense-secretary

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Was the threat really there in the first place?

[lark]

1. He's just covering for Bolton.

There was never any threat other than Bolton wanted to please his real master, little murderer, and start the war the 2 of them have desired with all their hearts for many decades.

[procon]

2. It was all a lie!

Trump is trying to force a new war with Iran, but they haven't taken the bait. Trump is trying to stuff the toothpaste back in the tube and in a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill, he sent Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan to try and explain that their objective has been to deter Iran from starting a war.

Going to the Hill shortly to have a serious discussion with lawmakers about 40 years of unprovoked aggression from the Iranian regime and to explain the prudent steps we’re taking to deter violence, protect American interests, and support the brave Iranian people.

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) May 21, 2019

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/dueling-briefings-capitol-hill-focus-trump-s-iran-policy-n1008446

"40 years of unprovoked aggression", That's the best excuse for a war that Trump could muster to justify escalation the tension with Iran.

[Kurt V.]

3. in other words the test balloons fooled no one.