US Central Command Chief: America is Not Seeking War with Iran

The head of the US Central Command emphasized on Thursday, October 12, that the United States is not seeking conflict or war with Iran and is pursuing a path of diplomatic and economic pressure. General Joseph Votel told reporters at the Pentagon, "I don't think we want war with Iran and that our focus is on this issue right now." These remarks from the American general come a day after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Washington is terminating the "Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations" between Iran and the US, which was signed in 1955. National Security Advisor John Bolton also stated last week that US forces will continue their presence in Syria even though the Islamic State group has suffered defeat. He said, "As long as Iranian forces are beyond their borders, we will not leave Syrian soil." Bolton warned Tehran that if its military forces or militia groups supporting the Islamic Republic harm US interests or those of its allies, they will pay a "heavy price." In the campaign that the Trump administration has launched against the Islamic Republic, General Votel has not been given "direct military authority," but he stated that "if necessary, the Pentagon is prepared to respond extensively." The Trump administration, which has close ties with Saudi Arabia and Israel, withdrew from the nuclear agreement with Iran on May 8 and reinstated the first round of suspended sanctions against Tehran in mid-August. The second round of sanctions, aimed at reducing Iran's oil sales to zero, will take effect on November 5. The head of the US Central Command stated that the Trump administration has been clear that the Iranian regime must "cease its destabilizing behavior and policies that lead to the spread of violence and human suffering in the Middle East." He stated, "The principled path we are currently pursuing is to use diplomatic and economic pressure. I support this approach; I do not see the need to necessarily pursue a path of war with Iran." Votel also reacted to Iran's missile attack on Tuesday against those it called "the perpetrators of the deadly attack on the Ahvaz parade." He said that Iran's failure to inform the US-led coalition about the attack beforehand potentially put coalition forces at risk. He described their actions as "reckless, unsafe, and out of control." Criticizing the delivery of the S-300 missile system to Syria, the head of the US Central Command explicitly criticized Russia for providing the missile defense system to the Syrian government. Votel stated that the transfer of this system also reflects Moscow's efforts to shield "malicious activities" of the Iranians and the Syrian regime. He emphasized that "the destructive and harmful actions of the Iranian regime in supporting the ruthless and oppressive Assad regime exacerbate the seven-year civil war in Syria." Russia claims that during the crash of one of its military aircraft, which was targeted by Syrian air defense, Israeli fighters were to blame for using the Russian plane as a shield to avoid fire from this defense. Israel has denied this accusation.