The United States deployed additional military forces to the Persian Gulf region due to rising tensions between them and Iran. On Tuesday, Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan issued a statement in which he said that the threat is on hold.
‘’I think our steps were very prudent and we’ve put on hold the potential for attacks on Americans and that is what is extremely important. We’re in a period where the threat remains high and our job is to make sure that there is no miscalculation by the Iranians,’’ said Shanahan.
‘’Our prudent response, I think, has given the Iranians time to recalculate. I think our response was a measure of our will and our resolve that we will protect our people and our interests in the region,’’ added Shanahan.
According to The Hill, the remarks came ahead of closed-door briefings on Capitol Hill where President Trump’s top security officials – including Shanahan, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford – will provide the first opportunity for many lawmakers to evaluate the intelligence the Trump administration says justifies its recent moves in the region.
Ever since president Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal between Iran and the U.S. tensions between the two countries rose.
Members of Congress will receive briefings on the situation on Tuesday afternoon.
The situation became even worse when Iranian officials announced on Monday that Iran increased its capacity to produce enriched uranium.
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is deployed to the region along with a B-52 bomber task force.
The U.S. Navy came out with a statement that the strike group conducted an exercise in the Arabian Sea with the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group.
Rear Adm. John Wade, commander of the carrier state group issued a statement in which he said:
‘’The exercises were aimed towards increasing our lethality and agility to respond to threats, and deterring destabilizing in this important region.’’
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