Alwaght- Since the drone strike on the US military base in Jordan last Sunday that killed at least 3 American soldiers and injured dozens of others, the White House officials have been talking about certainty of retaliatory strikes.
Meanwhile, while the US President Joe Biden in a statement approved attacks in Iraq and Syria, Secretary of State Lloyd Austin on Thursday said that the US is not at war with Iran, but it will give a “tiered response” in the time and location of its choosing.
These threats come as Iran’s UN mission, while emphasizing that Iran was not involved in this attack, has announced Tehran’s resolute response to any attack on Iran’s interests, bases, and military inside and outside its borders.
The trade of threats between Washington and Tehran has driven the combustible situation in the region even more vulnerable to new tensions and instability.
Given the continuation of Gaza war and warnings about possible spillover of the conflict to the whole region with the Israeli insistence on its war, Alwaght arranged an interview with West Asia affairs expert and ex-IRIB news agency director Hassan Abedini, asking him about the aspects of the crisis and prospects of a possible confrontation between Iran and the US in the coming days.
The US in the shock of resistance strikes at strategic Jordan base
Commenting on the type of the US response to the resistance groups’ operation, Mr Abedini first addressed the reasons behind these attacks and the strategic significance of this American base on Jordan-Syria border.
“The attacks of the Islamic resistance on the interests of the United States in West Asia is in response to the crimes committed by the Zionist regime against the people of Gaza. Americans support these crimes with all their might. The recent act of resistance against the American base is completely legitimate in response to the American-enabled Israeli occupation in Palestine over the past 75 years. This base is one of the undeclared US bases in the West Asia region and in one of the strategic areas on the border between Jordan and Syria. Previously, this base was used to support Daesh (ISIS) terrorist organization. Some news even mentioned that Daesh forces were trained near this base and were deployed against Syria. Therefore, this act of resistance groups against the American base in Jordan was a response to the supporters of terrorism in the region.”
He added that this base is significant in several ways. Firstly, it is undeclared and the resistance groups were able to reach its location. The defense correspondent of the BBC published a report some time ago, saying that when he wanted to go to this base, the American military officials emphasized to him that no information and photos of this base should be published. The base is said to have strong walls and is covered in various ways. Because 350 service people and airmen are stationed in this base, it is heavily protected both by advanced defenses such as Patriots and drones and cameras. But the fact that the resistance managed to attack this impenetrable fortress with the few resources at its disposal shows that the resistance has achieved a new level of deterrence.
“The Americans still think they are living in the 1970s and 1980s and that they are the undisputed superpower, but the fact is that their hegemony has gone for a while and this is what many American political thinkers vindicate.”
False American narrative of Jordan attack and resistance groups’ relations with Iran
Mr Abedini, furthermore, talked about the falsehood of the American narrative of the drone attack on its Jordan base, adding: “Regarding their reaction, I must say that America is narrating the issue upside down via its propaganda. For example, they claimed that the Islamic Republic of Iran was behind this operation or it was carried out by Iranian-backed groups.”
These claims, he added, come while though the resistance groups share anti-Israeli agenda and the dreams of liberation of Palestine with each other and with Iran, each of them acts based on their security ecosystem coordinates and it is not that they take their orders from Iran. The countries of Axis of Resistance do their job based on their area of activities. For instance, when Hamas launched its major Operation Al-Aqsa Storm on October 7, even Iran was unaware, and the Iranian military officials made it clear that this attack was not coordinated with Tehran. This was interpreted by hostile media as a sign of Iranian cleavage with resistance groups. But the fact is that Iran does not interfere in the internal matters and decision of the resistance groups.
He went on that it seems that the Americans are trying to make a ground for a new adventure against such resistance members as Iraq and Syria, while knowing that any steps towards this can inflame conflict. The best option for the Americans is to put the brakes on Israeli war and genocide to contribute to restoration of security in the region. Albeit, West Asia will see the color of peace only when Israeli occupation in Palestine ends.
US attacks on Iranian interests unlikely
Asked about his prediction about the US response, Mr Abedini held that the US and its top commanders more than any other party are aware of Iranian military capabilities. Though the American politicians every now and then make some bluffs, the American military are cautious against any adventure, because they know that any attacks on Iranian interests anywhere will draw tough responses. So, they are unlikely to take action on Iran.
Though due to use of power for years in West Asia region the US has lost its wisdom, Iran as a major regional power will not tolerate threats to its interests. Add to this the reality that the American claims are false and there will be no action against Iran.
The US will act warily
Noting that any military attacks by the US in the region will not boost their security in the region, Abedini held that any escalation by the Americans will definitely draw responses from resistance groups. But the case is different about Iran. Iran has built a strategic deterrence and is capable of defending its interests in the region.
He added that the Israeli regime, the US and the West joined their forces but failed to defeat Hamas in an enclave that has been under siege from land, air and sea for 16 years. So, indeed, they will not make any progress in front of a country as powerful as Iran. Another proof of American inability is when Daesh attacked Iraq and Syria, despite the American backing to the terrorist organization, the Resistance camp obliterated the terror organization in Syria and Iraq.
Mr Abedini went on that it seems that the Americans have a precise analysis of regional developments and will act warily. The Israeli regime has never built its security with escalation of tensions and its security has dropped to record lows.
American attacks will trigger powerful responses
Answering the question about what would the Resistance camp’s options be should the US attack, Mr Abedini held that if there would be the smallest attacks on the resistance groups, the Americans will get a strong response like before. “As we saw Yemen’s Ansarullah Movement targeting Israeli ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Gaza or Lebanese Hezbollah opened a front against Israeli regime on the north, the Iraqi resistance groups have responded seriously against the American bases.”
