Putin ties Ukraine peace deal to concessions, claims Russian forces are gaining ground
Putin said Moscow remains ready for a diplomatic settlement with Ukraine, while maintaining that any deal must reflect compromises discussed with Donald Trump.
As anti-regime protests continue to rage in Iran, some important developments are happening in the United States.
Two separate reports have claimed that President Donald Trump, who has warned the Iranian regime against killing protesters, has been presented with options on the Middle Eastern country.
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The reports came as an unidentified American official was reported as saying that an attack is possibly “a few days away”.
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What the New York Times reported
The Pentagon is reported to have listed before President Trump multiple options for attacking Iran, including pointed strikes on parts of its nuclear programme.
The leading American daily quoted a “senior source” as saying that a cyberattack or a strike against Iran’s internal security apparatus are among the options that the Trump administration is exploring. The source added that action against Iran is possibly “a few days away”.
This came as other officials reported Trump to be exploring diplomatic avenues as well.
CBS News said this
CBS News, meanwhile, said the options presented before President Trump include a wide range of military and covert tools other than conventional air strikes.
Two unidentified Defence Department officials told CBS News that while air strikes and missile attacks remain key parts of any action against the Iranian regime, a cyber operation and psychological campaign could also be used to interfere with Iranian command structures, communication and state media.
There is also an option to use covert tools along with a conventional attack, including using the military.
However, no final decision seems to have been taken yet and a key meeting of Trump’s national security team is due today at the White House.
Trump has been issuing warnings to Iran for weeks now, saying he will be forced to intervene if the Iranian security forces continue to kill people protesting against the oppressive regime. The President Sunday said Iran had indicated its willingness to negotiate, but added that the US military was “looking at some very strong options.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday that the President is “unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary.” But she added that “diplomacy is always the first option” and that “what you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite (different) from the messages the administration is receiving privately”.
‘Leave Iran now’
The remarks came as the US Virtual Embassy in Iran on Monday issued an advisory to American nationals to “Leave Iran now”. The embassy said protests across Iran are escalating and could “turn violent”.
It may be noted that street protests have been reported from all 31 provinces of Iran. The Human Rights Activists News said at least 544 people have been killed in two weeks of protests.
Amid the unrest, the regime blocked phone service and internet access in the capital, Tehran, late last week.
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