US B-52 bombers arrived in Qatar to discourage "possible attacks from Iran"

B-52 Stratofortress bombers sent to the Middle East for what Washington describes as Iranian threats, they arrived at a US air base in Qatar, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).

Nail photo taken by members of the US Air Force stationed at Al Udaid Air Base and posted on the CENTCOM website showed two planes. The caption read: "Arrival: US plane B-52H Stratofortress badigned to the 20th Expeditionary Bomber Squadron is stationed on a flight line on May 8, 2019."

Washington has tightened sanctions against Iran this month, eliminating the exemptions that had allowed some countries to buy their oil, with the aim of reducing Tehran's crude oil exports to zero. The Islamic Republic has responded by reducing some of the limits of its nuclear program.

The US Air Force began Tuesday the deployment of B-52 Stratofortress bombers. The Pentagon had reported that it was an answer to a supposed plan by Iran to attack US forces In the region.

The Ministry of Defense spoke of "recent and clear indications that Iranian forces prepared for possible attack by forces Americans. "

"The deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and an operational force against bombers is considered a prudent step in response to signs of Iran's greater willingness to conduct offensive operations against US forces and our interests. "Pentagon spokesman Charles Summers said in a statement.

"We underline the White House's statement that we are not trying to wage war on the Iranian regime, but that we will defend American personnel, our allies and our interests in the region," he added.

The deployment was announced for the first time Sunday night by John BoltonPresident Donald Trump's national security advisor said the move was "a clear and unequivocal message to the Iranian regime that any attack on the interests of the United States or our allies will be fought with relentless force."

The US measure responds to secret service information regarding a threat orchestrated by Iran, authorities said, but details of the threat have not been revealed.

Navy Captain Bill Urban, spokesman for the US Army Central Command, which covers the Middle East, said that the threat can be land or sea.

He said that advance in the area of ​​the aircraft carrier Lincoln was already scheduled in a long-planned deployment, but that his arrival in the Gulf had accelerated because of the threat.

The multinational operation, which includes several ships, several types of aircraft and 6,000 people, will be deployed "where it can best protect US forces and interests in the region and discourage aggression."

This move comes a year after Trump dismissed the United States from a multinational agreement under which Tehran had significantly curtailed its sensitive nuclear activities.

Since then, the Trump administration has reinforced the threatening rhetoric against Iran and strengthened economic sanctions against the country.

With information from Reuters and AFP