According to a series of US media reports released on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump has been offered more choices that it can undertake to address the current crisis in Iran including military attacks, cyber attacks and psychological attacks. The reports follow as nationwide demonstrations in Iran have become more violent with over 600 people allegedly being killed in the country.
According to defence sources, published by both the CBS News and The New York Times, conventional military force is still a significant component of any potential US attack on Iran.
The air power and long range missile attacks are still viewed as major instruments in case the US makes a decision to retaliate militarily. These alternatives are oriented to providing robust and fast attacks without using ground forces.
Cyber and psychological operation plans have also been spelt out by the Pentagon in addition to military action. These actions are aimed at undermining the domestic structures of Iran instead of using physical attacks only.
According to the officials, the cyber operations would have been employed to cripple the Iranian command networks, communications, and other important digital networks that sustain military and government operations.
The planning also involves psychological operations. Defence officials claim that the campaigns would target manipulating the flow of information and messaging among the people of Iran. The state-controlled media sources may be organized in terms of the attempts to undermine the control of the state over communication and popular opinion.
But the authorities did not give a precise explanation of how these psychological campaigns were going to be conducted and what was exactly the media medium that was going to be influenced.
The US officials clarified that these cyber and psychological activities might be combined with the military force or initiated alone. This approach was termed by the military planners as integrated operations in which various types of pressure are concurrently used to enhance the total effect.
Cyber or psychological actions might be employed in isolation, as a warning or some kind of limited response without using military action, in certain instances.
In the meantime also reported that the potential targets of discussion are the Iranian nuclear programme and the ballistic missile development. These targets are out of the scope of the airstrikes that had already been implemented by the US in June, which had already destroyed portions of the nuclear infrastructure in Iran.
Increasing the target list would be a sign of a more significant and direct threat to Iran’s strategic capabilities.
The increasing turmoil within Iran has increased the impetus in the deliberations within Washington. The demonstrations which are politically and economically motivated have spread to various cities and regions. The high casualties have also brought the international concern and also put the US policymakers under pressure to rethink their strategy towards Iran.
The national security team of Trump is to meet at the White House in order to revise and deliberate on the updated options on Tuesday. Based on the CBS News the meeting will also involve senior defence and intelligence officials that will brief the president on the risks and the possible results of each option.
Also Read: Trump’s 25% Iran Tariff Puts India Under Pressure Again
Though no final decision is announced, the menu of responses has been extended showing how many tools the US may be entertaining as the tensions between the two nations continue to intensify with Iran.
The international community is keeping a close eye on the situation since any action by the US might have significant implications on the stability of the region in the Middle East.
