Washington calls for physical elimination of Iranian intelligence leadership

US authorities continue to discuss a possible response to Tehran for its attempt to bomb the Saudi Arabian and Israeli embassies in Washington, as well as the assassination attempt on the Saudi ambassador to the United States. During the hearings in the American Congress, some participants in the discussion stated that the best response would be the physical elimination of the leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which was involved in organizing the failed terrorist attacks.

The debate in the US House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee, called “Iran's Terrorist Operations on American Soil,” took place on Wednesday. The topic of discussion was a possible US response to the discovery of a large-scale conspiracy, which, according to Washington, is Tehran. Let us recall that on October 11, American authorities announced the capture in New York of a native of Iran, Mansour Arbabsiar, who, during interrogation, confessed to preparing explosions at the embassies of Saudi Arabia and Israel in Washington, as well as an attempt on the life of the Saudi ambassador. His accomplice was a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps special forces, Al-Quds, responsible for carrying out sabotage abroad, Gholam Shakuri.

The general sentiment of the discussion participants was expressed by the chairman of the committee, Republican Peter King, who said that Tehran’s actions could be regarded as an “act of war.” “I don’t think we can continue to conduct business as if nothing had happened, or even, as before, simply limit ourselves to new sanctions,” he said.

A possible reaction from Washington to the hearing participants was suggested by an invited expert of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, ex-CIA employee Ruel Mark Gerekt. "I don't think you can really intimidate these people, get their attention, unless you shoot someone," he said. Mr. Gerect named Al-Quds Force leader Hassam Soleimani as the alleged victim. "He travels a lot. We must either try to capture him or kill him,” suggested the former CIA officer.

This position was supported by another participant in the hearing, retired general and analyst Jack Kane. Noting that Iranian Islamists have been orchestrating the murder of American citizens for 30 years, he asked: “Then why don’t we kill them?”

However, so far the Barack Obama administration does not seem to be thinking about such radical actions. As US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated in an interview with the BBC and Voice of America, the United States supports an open investigation into Tehran's actions under the leadership of the UN. “We would like Iran to participate in the UN investigation and for the Iranian government to hand over the second defendant, who is a member of the Quds Force,” she said.

Pavel Tarasenko

The US is preparing a retaliatory strike