Iran's Revolutionary Guard Downplays War Risk, Warns of Retaliation
Iran's Revolutionary Guard stated on Wednesday that a renewed war with the United States is unlikely, yet emphasized readiness for any potential attack. This statement follows Tehran's accusation that the U.S. violated a ceasefire in place since April, warning of retaliation after the most serious strikes since the truce began.
Uranium Not on Negotiation Agenda
Ali Bagheri Kani, Deputy Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, confirmed that indirect negotiations with the U.S. continue, but the issue of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile is not currently on the table. He stated that the approximately 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium, believed to be buried under a damaged nuclear facility, is not part of the talks. U.S. President Donald Trump previously claimed Iran was ready to hand over the uranium, but later suggested Tehran could dispose of it domestically or at an acceptable location.
War Drains U.S. Military Budgets
The Iran war is straining U.S. military budgets, impacting routine operations like training and maintenance. U.S. Navy Adm. Daryl Caudle told the House Armed Services Committee that the budget did not account for Operation Epic Fury, affecting routine operations. The III Armoured Corps saw nearly $292 million cut from its training budget in April. Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst III estimated the war's cost at approximately $29 billion as of May 12.
Dozens Killed in Lebanon
Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Tuesday killed 31 people, including at least four children, according to Beirut's health ministry. Iran demands that any peace accord apply to Lebanon, where an April 17 truce has failed to halt fighting between Hezbollah and Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush Hezbollah, and Israeli forces are expanding ground operations deeper into Lebanon.
Return to War Unlikely but Ready
Mohammad Akbarzadeh, deputy political chief of the Revolutionary Guard Navy, stated that the possibility of war is low due to the enemy's weakness, but warned that armed forces are lying in wait with full magazines. He threatened to turn the area from Chabahar to Mahshahr into a graveyard for aggressors, naming locations along Iran's southern coast.
