The ominous insight was given by NBC News’ Ali Arouzi live from Tehran as the US sends another 1000 troops to the region. He explained: “We certainly seem to be on a slippery slope between Washington and Tehran, don’t we? The relationship between these two over the last 40 years has been defined by animosity.

“But I’ve got to tell you, I’ve never seen it this bad.

“So unpredictable, so dangerous.

“And every day it seems to be ratcheting up a notch.

“Last night, the Pentagon announced it was sending an additional 1000 troops to the region after attacks on six oil tankers in as many weeks.

“The US blaming Iran, Iran, of course, denying involvement yet at the same time issuing warnings saying that if they can’t sell their oil then they’ll stop everyone buying and selling oil via the Strait of Hormuz – which Iran has a lot of control over.

“Also yesterday Iran announced that it had dismantled what they called a ‘cyber-espionage network’ targeting Iran, saying that CIA agents were arrested both in Iran and abroad.

“Then you have the announcement that Iran was going to roll back its commitments to the nuclear program and ramp up production.

“President Trump just said that was one of the conditions that he might start a war with Iran.”

The United States sought on Wednesday to bolster its case for isolating Iran over its nuclear and regional activities by showing limpet mine fragments it said came from a damaged oil tanker and saying the ordnance looked Iranian in origin.

The Islamic Republic has denied involvement in explosive strikes on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman last week and four tankers off the United Arab Emirates on May 12, both near the Strait of Hormuz, a major conduit for global oil supplies.

But the incidents have fuelled tensions that broke out with the U.S. pullout last year from world powers’ 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, followed by fresh U.S. sanctions to stifle Tehran’s vital oil trade, and a retaliatory Iranian threat this week to resume uranium enrichment in breach of the deal.

France and Germany said on Wednesday they would crank up efforts to halt any spiral towards conflict with Iran, but time was running out and the risk of war could not be ruled out.

Iran’s signal of preparedness to stockpile enriched uranium beyond the deal’s limit, and refine uranium to a fissile purity higher than deemed necessary for civilian uses, prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to warn on Tuesday he was ready to take military action to stop Tehran developing a nuclear bomb.

Iran denies it has such intentions.

Source: Read Full Article