Washington [US], January 30: Senior Israeli and Saudi Arabian military and intelligence officials are visiting Washington to discuss the possibility of a U.S. attack on Iran, while Tehran has warned it is targeting U.S. bases in the region.
Reuters reported on January 30, citing two sources familiar with the matter, that the administration of US President Donald Trump is holding meetings in Washington with senior defense and intelligence officials from Israel and Saudi Arabia.
According to a source, General Shlomi Binder, Director General of Israeli Military Intelligence (Aman), held discussions with senior officials at the Pentagon regarding Iran, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the White House on January 27 and 28.
Axios reported that General Binder shared intelligence about potential Iranian targets.
In addition, Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman also traveled to Washington to meet with US officials regarding Iran, according to two other sources.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are seeking to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and prevent the risk of a wider war breaking out in the region.
Earlier, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Riyadh would not allow the use of its airspace or territory for military actions against Tehran.
The White House has not commented on the information regarding the meetings.
In a related development, Iran threatened on January 29 to immediately attack US military bases and aircraft carriers if the US were attacked.
Speaking on state television, Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia, spokesman for the Iranian military, warned that Tehran would retaliate against any military action from the United States.
According to him, US aircraft carriers have "serious weaknesses," and many US military bases in the Gulf "are within range of our medium-range missiles." The spokesperson asserted that Iran's retaliatory campaign would be swift and decisive, and that everything would be over within just two hours.
Meanwhile, AFP reported on January 30th that an official in the Gulf region, home to several countries with US military bases, acknowledged that Iran's concerns about a US attack were very real. The official warned that if it occurred, the conflict would plunge the region into chaos and cause widespread economic damage.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
