The United States may carry out a preemptive strike if it perceives an imminent threat from Iran against American forces in the region, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, according to RIA Novosti.
“The President always reserves the right to take preemptive defensive action,” Rubio said on January 28 during his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He reportedly expressed hope that such an action would not be necessary, but emphasized that Washington considers the threat of Iranian attacks to be real, given that American military bases are within range of Iran’s weaponry. As a result, he stated that the U.S. is looking at the current situation as an opportunity to deploy sufficient forces in the region to protect itself from a "potential threat."
Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump confirmed that an American naval armada, led by the aircraft carrier “Abraham Lincoln,” is heading toward Iran. He warned that Iran could face an even more devastating attack than the one it experienced in June of the previous year, urging the country to "avoid a repeat" of those events.
According to Fox News, on Monday, a strike group led by the “Abraham Lincoln” entered the area of responsibility for U.S. Central Command in the Indian Ocean.
Meanwhile, the Middle East Eye reported that this week, the U.S. may carry out pinpoint strikes against Iranian officials and commanders believed to be responsible for the deaths of protesters.
