(Manama) The United States said on Saturday that it was always ready to deploy “significant forces” in the Middle East, responding to questions about its willingness to resort, if necessary, to the military option in the region.
All options are on the table, especially if diplomacy fails to frame Iran’s nuclear program, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin assured during the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, refuting the idea that his country had become reluctant to use force.
The Pentagon chief was questioned as to why Washington failed to respond to the drone and artillery attack in October on a base used by the coalition fighting ISIS in Syria.
“The United States of America retains the right to defend itself. And we will stand up for ourselves and our interests, no matter what, when and where we choose, ”said Austin.
That no country, that no individual is mistaken on this subject. We are committed to our defense, that of our interests, and that also includes our partners. And we are also determined not to let Iran acquire nuclear weapons.
Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of Defense
Tehran has always denied wanting to acquire the atomic bomb.
According to Austin, the main objective of the United States is to strengthen its “unmatched” alliances in the Middle East, however, underlining the presence of tens of thousands of its troops stationed in the region.
“The United States’ commitment to security in the Middle East is strong and secure,” he insisted.
After ending 20 years of occupation of Afghanistan in August, the United States is preparing to withdraw its troops from Iraq by the end of the year.
Iran’s neighbors are worried about concessions that could be made to the Islamic Republic in the negotiations expected to resume this month over its nuclear program.
The United States and Israel, Iran’s sworn enemies, accuse it of using drones and missiles to attack American forces and Israeli-linked ships in the Gulf, in order to destabilize the region.
Since February, Iran and Israel have been engaged in a “shadow war” in which ships linked to each country are attacked in the waters around the Gulf.