Pentagon releases new photos ‘proving’ Iran attacked oil tankers as US deploys 1,000 more troops to the Middle East
NEW photos released by the Pentagon appear to prove Iran's ruthless Revolutionary Guard were behind the bomb attacks on two oil tankers in the Middle East.
The US is to deploy more than 1,000 more troops to the region as tensions mount over the attacks in the Gulf of Oman, which saw both ships burst into flames.
When questioned if a military response was one of the options, Pompeo responded: "Of course."
He then added: "The President will consider everything we need to do to make sure, right? But what's the President said? We don't want Iran to get a nuclear weapon.
"President Trump has said very clearly, he doesn't want to go to war."
And when asked if the administration had the legal authorisation to strike Iran without approval from Congress, Pompeo said: "We always have the authorisation to defend American interests."
Pompeo's comments came after the two tankers were attacked near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
The Pentagon last week also released other images and footage as "proof" of Iranian involvement in last week's attack.
US and Iran - a troubled history
- Before the 1979 Iranian revolution, Iran was one of America's biggest allies in the Middle East and was led by the US-backed Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.
- However, since the seismic revolt, Iran has been led by murderous Islamic fundamentalists and tensions with Washington have remained ever since.
- On November 4, 1979, the Iranian regime took 52 US diplomats hostage in response to President Carter’s administration allowing Iran’s deposed former leader into America.
- The hostage crisis lasted for 444 days and also included a failed rescue mission which cost the lives of eight US soldiers.
- In April 1980, the US ended diplomatic relations with Iran – a break which lasted for more than 30 years.
- In April 1983, Washington blamed the Iranian-funded terror group Hezbollah for carrying out a bombing attack on the American embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.
- The assault, carried out amid a brutal civil war in Lebanon, killed 17 Americans.
- In November of that year, two truck bombs in Beruit killed 241 US peace keepers. The US again blamed Hezbollah for the incident.
- The Clinton White House, in 1995, placed a total embargo on Iran meaning US companies could not trade with the country.
- And in 2002, George W Bush included the Islamic Republic in his famous “Axis of evil” speech along with North Korea and Iraq.
It was also revealed the US Navy is sending the guided missile destroyer USS Mason to the scene of the attacks.
The deployment of extra troops is part of a broader military package of options that were initially laid out to US leaders late last month.
They include many as 10,000 personnel, Patriot missile batteries, aircraft and ships.
The Royal Navy is also set to send Marines to the region amid rising tensions.
The attacks came as tensions in the Persian Gulf between the United States and Iran reach boiling point.
In recent weeks, Washington has deployed an aircraft carriers and B-52 bombers to the region in response to what it says are Iranian threats against American interests and its allies in the region.
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