Korean Media: US Aircraft Carrier Battle Group Moves to the Middle East Deployment ... Iran Closes Its Airspace

Trump Says "It Is Said That Killing Has Stopped" ...

In the context of the United States hinting at possible military intervention against Iran, which has been experiencing ongoing anti-government demonstrations, it is reported that the U.S. Department of Defense is relocating an aircraft carrier battle group deployed in the South China Sea to the Middle East.

On the 14th (local time), U.S. media NewsNation reported that the U.S. "Abraham Lincoln" carrier strike group is moving towards the U.S. Central Command's area of operations, including the Middle East, and is expected to arrive within a week. Last November, the United States had deployed the world's largest carrier, the "Gerald R. Ford" carrier strike group, near Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea, and then suddenly launched a military operation less than two months later, arresting President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

The largest U.S. base in the Middle East - the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar - also issued recommendations for some personnel to leave the base by the evening. Al Udeid Air Base was the place where Iran fired missiles in June last year as a retaliation for the U.S. air strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. After the evacuation order for Al Udeid Air Base was announced, Iran declared through an international aviation notice that it would temporarily close its airspace, citing "executing air missions" as the reason. According to the Associated Press, citing information from the conflict zone and air traffic information website "Safe Airspace," "the closure of airspace may signal the launch of missiles or strengthening the air defense network and other military activities."

U.S. President Donald Trump said during an event at the White House, "I heard that the killing by Iran (against demonstrators) has stopped. I have received quite strong reports, and I will find out their meaning." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to Fox News in the U.S., said regarding the demonstrator Erfan Soltani (26 years old), who was scheduled to be executed that day, "The hanging will not be carried out today or tomorrow. I can assert that there are no plans to carry out the execution."

Araghchi also said, "Iran is currently in a state of peace, and the situation is completely under control." Tehran held funerals and large-scale pro-regime official gatherings for soldiers who died in the suppression of the demonstrations. Some analysts believe that as the demonstrations entered a temporary period of calm, the U.S. stance on military action may have softened.

However, with the consecutive events of the U.S. deploying carriers and Iran closing its airspace, some analysts believe that the U.S. attack is imminent. According to U.S. government officials, NBC reported that the White House National Security team emphasized that if Trump carries out military action in Iran, it must be "quick and decisive," not dragged into a prolonged war lasting weeks or months. For this purpose, the U.S. Department of Defense plans to develop feasible military options and report them to Trump.

Worldwide, countries are closing embassies in Iran or issuing orders for the evacuation of citizens. The British government temporarily closed its embassy in Tehran on the 14th. The UK Foreign Office stated, "This decision was made for the safety of the embassy staff." France has recently evacuated non-essential staff from its embassy in the country.

Italy, Spain, and India have issued evacuation orders for their citizens stranded in Iran. The governments of these countries issued alerts stating, "You should use all available means of transportation to leave Iranian territory." Before the demonstrations, there were 10,000 Indians, 600 Italians, and 150 Spaniards staying in Iran. The Italian Foreign Ministry stated, "There are more than 900 Italian soldiers stationed in the Middle East. We are taking protective measures for our citizens."

At the request of the U.S. government, the UN Security Council decided to hold an emergency meeting on the 15th to discuss the situation in Iran. Analysts believe that the U.S. will increase pressure on Iran both militarily and diplomatically.

Meanwhile, in Iran, witnesses claimed that authorities used Soviet-made heavy machine guns, the "DShK" with 12.7 mm caliber, to shoot at demonstrators, or confirmed the shooting of demonstrators who had already fallen. A doctor said that this was more tragic than the scene after the 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Iran in 2017, saying, "I have never seen such a scene in reality."

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original: toutiao.com/article/1854444867160201/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself