US senator warns Iran strike plans would trigger devastating escalation

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy warned after a Pentagon briefing that the Trump administration’s plans for intensive strikes on Iran after the midterm elections would trigger a devastating escalation.

US Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned that the Trump administration’s plans to launch intensive strikes on Iran after the midterm elections would lead to a “devastating escalation.”

Speaking at an event organized by the Middle East Institute in Washington on Wednesday, Murphy said he had recently attended a “fairly detailed” briefing by Defense Department officials on the war plan.

“I’ll just say this: Their plan will lead to a devastating escalation and likely destroy our commitment to the rule of law,” he said, adding that the plan would lead to a “prolonged escalation of this war that would be devastating to our security interests” and put the lives of US troops at risk when Iran responds.

مبنى وزارة الدفاع الأمريكية (البنتاغون) في أرلينغتون

Murphy declined to disclose details of the plan but pointed to recent media reports. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the United States had told Gulf countries it was prepared for a “short and intense military campaign” after next week’s elections, while reports said the Pentagon had drawn up plans to strike a wide range of targets, including Iran’s nuclear energy facilities.

The newspaper also reported that a senior admiral had briefed the White House on new options for attacking Iran.

Murphy said the plans could “use more provocative and dangerous methods, and perhaps violate international law,” adding that deliberately targeting civilians and using the harm inflicted on them as leverage in war clearly violates international law.