Wsj: US preparing to send second aircraft carrier group to Middle East
Iranian Air Force: 'We will respond firmly'
Key points
- Islamic republic prepares for possible attack
- Iranian defence measures
- Air Force Chief: "We will respond firmly to attack"
- Tehran: "US not to be influenced by Israel"
- Netanyahu from Trump: "Negotiations with Iran a priority issue"
- The head of the Iranian security council today in Oman
- Khamenei pardons 919 prisoners
Three US officials told the Wall Street Journal that the Pentagon has instructed another aircraft carrier strike group to prepare for deployment to the Middle East as part of preparations for possible military action against Iran.
An initial carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in the region at the end of January. According to the report, while negotiations continue, the Trump administration is trying to increase the pressure on Tehran.
The Islamic Republic prepares for a possible attack
According to Israeli media reports, satellite images show that the tunnel entrances to Iran's Isfahan nuclear site have been buried, a possible sign of Tehran's concern about possible attacks on the site.
Iran's defence measures
The Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security, which has been monitoring Iran's nuclear sites for some time, says the new images show two of the entrances completely covered, while the third entrance further north of the complex has "additional passive defence measures". According to the organisation, Iran appears concerned about the possibility of attacks by the US or Israel. "Filling the tunnel entrances would help dampen any potential air strikes and would also make access by land difficult in the event of a special forces raid to seize or destroy any highly enriched uranium that may be contained within. Preparations such as these were last seen in the days leading up to Operation Midnight Hammer that struck the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan facilities,' the institute says. Iran has taken further civil defence measures in recent weeks: 82 stations of the metropolitan railway in the capital have been turned into emergency shelters, and Iranian officials have also reportedly begun stockpiling large quantities of fuel.
Chief of the Air Force: 'We will respond firmly to attack'
Iran's military leadership also continues to turn up the heat. "The air force is fully ready and will respond firmly in the event of an attack". These were the words of Bahman Bahmard, commander of the Iranian Air Force, who highlighted the Islamic republic's combat capabilities, which he judged to be superior compared to the past. "The great experience gained in the 12-day war with Israel has helped us rehabilitate our combat capability," Bahmard said. Moreover, on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, Tehran's army said that "the forces will face threats with strength and respond comprehensively and decisively to any aggression."
