Describing Iran as the “most significant threat” to regional stability, a top US commander has accused Tehran of carrying out clandestine activities in more than a dozen countries, including India.
An Iranian miscalculation raises the risk of sparking disastrous conflict, General James Mattis, commander of the US Central Command, told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during a congressional hearing. “Iran remains the single most significant regional threat to stability and prosperity. Its reckless behaviour and bellicose rhetoric characterise a leadership that cannot win the affection of its own people or respect of any responsible nation in the region,” he said on Tuesday.
He added that Iran continued support to the “murderous Assad regime” in Syria coupled with its “malign activities” in India, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Bahrain, Yemen, Gaza, Sudan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Thailand, Georgia, Bulgaria, and Nigeria.
“In Washington DC it attempted to kill the Saudi ambassador and elsewhere in the world, as well as in the cyber-domain, raise the risk of Iranian miscalculation that could spark a disastrous conflict,” he said.
Senator Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that all options, including military options, need to remain on the table. He said that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon was not only US policy, but the US was determined to achieve the policy goal.
“Iran is actively expanding threat network that has promoted violence across the regions in Yemen, Gaza, Sudan, Syria, Iraq and elsewhere. It provides financial and material support to overthrow or undermine governments or terrorise innocent civilians,” he said.
General Mattis added that the collapse of Assad regime in Syria would be the biggest strategic setback for Iran in 25 years.
“I believe they will arm militias inside the country to try to create a Lebanese Hezbollah-type effect. They would redouble their efforts vis-à-vis Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen and elsewhere,” he said. Mattis said that Iran obtaining a nuclear weapons would be very dangerous for the world.
