The impact of the latest attacks on Syria was so intense, that it resulted in an earth tremor measuring 2.6 on the Richter scale. Several casualties, both Syrian and Iranian, were counted in these latest attacks.
Some believe these strikes act as a provocation against Iran before the US makes a formal decision on cancelling the international nuclear agreement with Iran.
The US, UK and French missile strikes on Syria earlier in April will “only increase the Syrians’ determination to eliminate terrorism in all its forms, and uphold their sovereignty and their right to shape their own future,” Syrian President Bashar Assad said, as he accepted a top Iranian MP in Damascus.
During the talks, the two sides confirmed their resolve to continue to strengthen strategic relations between the allies, Syrian SANA news agency reported.
According to sources, the US is unhappy about the recent Syrian government advances, after the Syrian government announced a deal with the militants near Yarmouk, while also sending troops to recapture Rastan and Talbisi.
The Syrian government is not keen on negotiations, while the US wants to negotiate the future of the areas under opposition control. The Syrian government has been making gains through military means instead.
President Trump has suggested an end the nuclear agreement with Iran, and to eliminate Iranian forces in Syria which support the Syrian government, despite the IAEA assurances that Iran is in full compliance with the agreement. Iran has implemented its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said.
Any serious intelligence showing Iranian non-compliance with the nuclear agreement would be presented to the IAEA and the six signature powers of the agreement. The IAEA would investigate and report back. If Iran reneges on the deal, serious international sanctions would follow.
Last week General Joseph Votel, commander of CENTCOM – the US military command for the Middle East, was in Israel for the first ever visit of a CENTCOM commander to Israel. Usually Israel works with the European command EUCOM.
This week, former CIA director and now Secretary of State Pompeo visited Israel, just before two ammunition depots in Syria which are supposedly related to Iran were bombed. The Israeli defense minister Lieberman also just returned from Washington after his visit there.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of “lying” about its nuclear research program, citing evidence from secret intelligence files. The “new and compelling” details about Iran’s nuclear program are “consistent” with what the United States has long known, the White House said.
The White House welcomed Netanyahu’s “revelations” in support of scrapping the nuclear deal with Tehran. It has until May 12 to extend sanctions waivers against Tehran.
The Iranian regime has shown it will use destructive weapons against its neighbors and others. Iran must never have nuclear weapons. https://t.co/xYcJXJpVQh
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 1, 2018
But in September 2002 Netanyahu lied to the US congress: “There is no question whatsoever that Saddam is seeking and is working and is advancing towards the development of nuclear weapons – no question whatsoever.”
Trump has slammed the internationally-backed agreement with Iran as “the worst deal ever” and threatened to pull the US out of it. “In seven years, that deal will have expired and Iran is free to go ahead and create nuclear weapons. That is not acceptable. Seven years is tomorrow, that’s not acceptable,” he said. But China, Russia, the UK, France and Germany want to keep the deal.
