Pentagon 'Evaluating' How to Counter Iran's Behavior in the Middle East

The U.S. Department of Defense states that it is taking all necessary actions to counter Iran's behavior in the region and is still evaluating whether it can take new actions or escalate current measures. Colonel Robert Manning, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters on Monday, May 20, 'We intend to take all necessary actions to counter and respond to Iran's malign influence in the region.' He added, 'We are evaluating whether to escalate our current actions or to put new actions on the agenda.' He did not specify the nature of these actions. The Pentagon spokesman's remarks coincide with a speech by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who stated that the U.S. intends to impose the toughest sanctions in history against Iran and has urged Tehran to stop its nuclear policy and its actions in the region. He specifically called for Iran to cease its support for groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad, to refrain from interfering in Iraq, Yemen, and Syria, to stop supporting the Taliban, to halt the Quds Force's support for militias, and to end threats against Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. One of the points of confrontation between the U.S. and Iran in the region has been in the Persian Gulf, which has led to confrontations between the IRGC's speedboats and U.S. naval vessels in recent years. Last week, Admiral John Richardson, head of U.S. Navy operations, stated that the U.S. naval fleet stationed in the Persian Gulf is closely monitoring Iran's maritime movements. He added that with the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, uncertainty about global oil supplies and the potential for conflict in the Middle East has also increased. He emphasized that in such circumstances, one must be prepared and vigilant to deal with unexpected events.