FIERY FURY
Iran warns Trump ‘don’t test us’ and insists it’s ‘fully ready’ for war with the US if sabre-rattling erupts into conflict in rare interview
IRAN is ready for war if the United States drags it into a conflict, the country’s UK ambassador has said.
Hamid Baeidinejad was speaking as it emerged the US is planning to deploy 120,000 troops if Iran attacks American forces in the region.
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Tensions between Iran and the United States have been rising after American announced a massive military deployment to the Gulf to counter alleged, still-unspecified threats from Tehran.
The US has also accused Iran of using explosives to blow huge holes in four ships – including two Saudi oil tankers – anchored in the Persian Gulf.
But in a rare interview, Mr Baeidinejad told Sky News his country’s military was prepared for any conflict.
"While we have renounced any escalation in the region, I would assure you that Iranian armed forces are fully ready for any eventuality in the region, so they should not try to test the determination of Iran to confront any escalation in the region," he said.
But the Iranian ambassador said his government did not believe Donald Trump was serious about threatening war.
The President’s hard-line national security adviser John Bolton is said to have ordered the heavily beefed-up military plans in response to growing tensions in the region.
Mr Baeidinejad claimed advisers such as Mr Bolton were actively trying to convince Trump to start a military conflict.
'DON'T TEST US'
"I think part of this is theatrical manoeuvres by the US," he said.
"Our analysis is they, [or] at least President Trump, doesn't want to engage in military confrontation with Iran because of how costly it will be for the US and for the region."
The ambassador also said the Iranians “totally reject” the US claim that they were responsible for the sabotage of the oil tankers.
"It is very suspicious to us and we hope an international fact finding mission could really find the reasons for these sabotages which are really suspicious to us," he said.
Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan revealed the audacious strategy for troop deployment to America's top national security aides last Thursday, according to the New York Times.
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The top secret plans are said to spell out how a vast land, air and sea force would be sent to America's regional allies bordering Iran should its foe attack US forces.
The deployment could also be sparked if Iran accelerates its work on nuclear weapons, according to defense sources - in breach of an international treaty.
It is unclear if President Trump - who has tried to scale back US military involvement in the Middle East - would order the deployment.
Such a large force would be able to launch an invasion on the scale of Iraq in 2003 - and would almost certainly be met with a military response from Iran.
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US B-52 bombers have 'already flown missions' after Iran threatened to attack Israel if the US launches an assault
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