The US military is prepared to strike Iran as early as this weekend, though President Donald Trump has yet to make a final decision on whether he’ll authorize such actions, sources familiar with the matter tell CNN.
Huge Military Buildup
There is a significant buildup in recent days of air and naval assets in the Middle East.
The US Gerald Ford— the most advanced carrier group in the US arsenal — could arrive in the region as soon as this weekend, after a flurry of other military buildup. US Air Force assets based in the United Kingdom, including refueling tankers and fighter jets, are being repositioned closer to the Middle East, according to sources familiar with the movements.
But one source cautioned that Trump has privately argued both for and against military action and polled advisers and allies on what the best course of action should be.
“He is spending a lot of time thinking about this,” one source said.
For its part, Iran is fortifying several of its nuclear using concrete and large amounts of soil to bury key sites amid US military pressure, according to new satellite imagery and analysis from the Institute for Science and International Security.
World calendar events
A number of calendar events could play a role in the timing of an attack. The Winter Olympics — traditionally a moment of global unity — conclude on Sunday; some European officials said they believed no strike would occur before then. Meanwhile, Ramadan began Wednesday; some officials from US allies in the Middle East — which have lobbied against an attack, fearing regional destabilization — said an attack during the Muslim holy month would convey American disrespect. It wasn’t clear whether the president was taking any of those events into account as he weighs his options.
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Is Ghana prepared for the consequences?
Currently, Ghana is unwinding steadily, a four-year suffocating economic rope around its neck and a United States attack on Iran could set back gains made by the Mahama-led administration.
Ghana’s economy could be hit through global energy and market channels. A major conflict in the Middle East would likely disrupt oil supply; especially if the Strait of Hormuz is threatened, causing crude prices to surge worldwide.
Is the rest of the world really prepared for consequences of weeks-sustained war with Iran?
