Sputnik - Unnamed military sources, quoted by The Washington Post, have expressed alarm over Iran�s unpredictable reaction to US economic and diplomatic pressure.




The Washington Post has cited several military officials, who spoke on�condition of�anonymity, as�expressing concern that reducing the US military presence in�the Middle East has dealt a blow to�their ability to�react to�potential Iranian threats amid�what they called an increased potential for�confrontation due to�the sanctions.

Although the military sources don�t believe that Tehran is capable of�carrying out�a large-scale attack on�US forces in�the turbulent region, they are still alarmed that the Islamic Republic could turn to�its ballistic missiles or shut down�the strategic Strait of�Hormuz.

The military reportedly believes that it�s the current administration�s policy to�deter Iran, including Donald Trump�s decision to�pull out�of the landmark nuclear deal and efforts to�eliminate what National Security Adviser John Bolton branded as��the Iranian menace�in�Syria and in�the region as�a whole that has increased the likelihood of�military confrontation.

They also claimed that US Central Command, which oversees operations in�the Middle East, had requested additional resources.

The same report, however, suggested that since�USS Theodore Roosevelt returned to�the Pacific in�March after�spending four months in�the Gulf, there have been no US aircraft carriers in�the Middle East, which marks the longest period in�many years.

The military officials also claimed that Washington had withdrawn a large share of�its Patriot missiles along�with some warplanes, such as�the F-22 Raptor.

The concerns reportedly followed Iran�s consistent threats to�close the Strait of�Hormuz, thus cutting off�the main oil shipping route, in�retaliation to�any hostile actions from�the United States. Estimating that Iran could deploy some 1,000 mines in�less than�a week, the sources are reportedly worried that Iran might use mines to�close the waterway or make it difficult to�transit.
�Now you�re squeezing them economically and diplomatically, and it�s uncertain what Iran�s ultimate reaction will be,� one official told The Washington Post.


The concern keeps growing about�the Islamic Republic�s missile capability as�well, the report says, with�the officials raising questions about�Iran�s ability to�strike their intended targets.

The Washington Post then alleged that Iranian missiles, which hit militants in�Syria about�5 km away from�the position of�US troops, �demonstrated its improved aim.�

And taking into�account that the Pentagon had removed four Patriot missiles batteries from�the region, the officials, the report claims, do not feel �confident in�their ability to�repel Iran�s ballistic missiles.�

Relations between�Iran and the US have deteriorated after�President Trump decided to�withdraw from�the 2015 nuclear deal and reinstate anti-Tehran sanctions.

The first round�of restrictions, which had been lifted under�the agreement, was re-imposed in�August; while the new set of�sanctions on�Iran�s energy sector, shipping, ship-building and financial industries will take effect on�November 5.

At the same time, the Trump administration has drawn up�a list of�12 demands that Tehran must comply with�in order to�see the sanctions lifted.