The US ‘remains committed’ to stopping Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon and is ready to ‘defend its interests and allies in the region’, a top official has pledged.
Lloyd James Austin III, the American retired US Army four-star general serving as the 28th US Secretary of Defence, reassured Gulf allies that the US is here to stay and not ‘going to abandon’ the region. He further highlighted Iranian threats, including from its proxies and the release of rogue drones.
“I know that many of us share deep concerns about the Iranian government’s destabilising actions, including its support for terrorism, its dangerous proxies and its nuclear programme,” said the veteran officer during the first plenary session of the Manama Dialogue yesterday organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
“The United States remains committed to preventing Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon and we remain committed to a diplomatic outcome of the nuclear issue,” he added. “But if Iran isn’t willing to engage seriously then we will look at all the options necessary to keep the US secure.
“Our friends and foes both know that the United States can deploy overwhelming force at the time and place of our choosing.”
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