The US fears Iran will unleash a new Islamic-State-style terrorist group.
White House officials claim Tehran could launch an extremist terror outfit to target Shiites Muslims in the Middle East. James Jeffrey, the US State Department’s special representative to Syria, warned a key defence summit that direct military action could not defeat Iran and groups it backs. Donald Trump has branded Iran “the world’s leading state sponsor of terror” and ramped up sanctions on Tehran.
Tehran has strong links to Hezbollah and Hamas and has been criticised by the US for refusing to cooperate over bringing al-Qaeda members to justice. Speaking at the Sixth Annual Defense One Summit, US diplomat Mr Jeffrey said “will create a new Daesh if we don’t get at the underlying problem”. Mr Jeffrey said: “It requires stability ops to break Iran’s meddling influence.” The US has “no better partner” than Saudi Arabia to tackle Iran, Mr Jeffrey claimed. Largely Shia Iran and leading Sunni Mulism power Saudi Arabia have been enemies for decades. Relations have worsened in recent years, with Iran backing Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad. The Saudis have funded rebel groups fighting the Syrian regime, but the US sees Saudi Arabia as a key ally in its offensive against Iran. Mr Jeffrey added: ”We couldn’t be doing what we’re doing in the region without them.” Mr Trump has imposed a wave of sanctions on Iran after pulling the US out of a key 2015 global deal to limit Iran’s nuclear production. The US leader scrapped the accord, which was signed by Barack Obama, claiming Iran was using funds to back terrorist groups and develop missiles. Saudi Arabia was one of the few global powers that backed Mr Trump’s decision to axe the deal. A fresh wave of US sanctions launched at the start of November are targeting Iran’s oil sector, drawing anger from Tehran.
President Hassan Rouhani vowed to “defeat” Mr Trump, saying: “The Americans will definitely be defeated in this path.
“The path they have chosen is wrong and incorrect.” The US backing for Saudi Arabia comes despite a wave of criticism following the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi dissent Mr Khashoggi was killed by Riyadh’s agents at the kingdom’s embassy. The Saudis have now handed five death sentences for 17 agents arrested over the incident.
Source » express