Iran-US Conflict Escalates Amid Confusion Over American Strategy
The Financial Times has revealed that US President Donald Trump does not have a clear plan for the future of Iran, sparking concerns about the effectiveness of the American strategy for regime change. According to the Financial Times, relying solely on air strikes to achieve regime change is a perilous approach, and Trump’s strategy differs from the 2003 Iraq and 2001 Afghanistan models.
The Financial Times reports that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has been instructed to lay down arms, but there is no clear operational plan in place. The prolonged conflict poses a risk of destabilization in Gulf states. Only 27% of Americans support military action against Iran, and a decision not to send ground troops has left the post-war strategy unclear.
In a video message earlier, US President Donald Trump claimed that the Iranian military command had been completely destroyed, with many people wanting to lay down their arms. The President announced that military targets had included Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities and Iran’s air defense system, with nine ships and an Iranian naval building also targeted. The operation will continue until objectives are achieved.
A phone call was made between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In response to the ongoing conflict, several airlines have temporarily resumed flights to Abu Dhabi to rescue stranded passengers. Two foreign airlines will also be allowed to fly out of the region before the operation is suspended until March 4.
Pete Hegseth stated that the US mission in Iran is to prevent the country from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iranian TV reported that the wife of the Supreme Leader, Mansoura Bagherzadeh, was severely injured in the US-led attacks.
The Saudi embassy stated that the kingdom has always supported diplomatic efforts to establish a reliable agreement with Iran. The historical Golestan Palace in Tehran has reportedly suffered damage in the recent US-Israeli attacks.
Following reports of Pakistani air strikes, several Taliban leaders have relocated to Bamiyan Province in Afghanistan. A protest rally was held in Vienna’s city center, Austria, under the banner “Hands of Iran.”
Imran Khan’s former wife, Jemima Khan, has been fined £1,000 in the UK. The British government has also begun planning to evacuate stranded British citizens from Gulf countries due to the conflict.
US President Donald Trump announced that the UK had blocked the use of Diego Garcia military base for Iran attacks, with the UK Prime Minister reportedly disappointed by the decision. Imran Khan’s former wife, Jemima Khan, has been fined £1,000 in the UK.
The UK Parliament has been temporarily suspended due to the outbreak of coronavirus. Several members of the assembly have fallen ill due to the lockdown.
Afghan news agency Amaj reported that several Afghan Taliban leaders have relocated to Bamiyan Province due to concerns about Pakistani air strikes.
Former Pakistani cricketer Ahmad Shahzad has called for a higher fine of 50 million rupees for players involved in corruption scandals.
