Is a war between the United States and Iran impending? Have the arch foes finally shed all restraint and second thoughts? Will a war between Iran and the US escalate into another World War? Has President Donald Trump made a threat of nuclear attack against Iran?
Trump has probably made the direst of threats ever to have emerged from the White House after Iranian leader Rouhani promised a 'mother of all wars'. But will this war of words turn into an actual war?
Of course clickbaity newspaper portals have already started 'Live coverage' on the Iran-US war. This is a newspaper headline that's running in real time: "Iran vs US - World War 3 LIVE: Trump's FURIOUS tweet as Iran warns of 'mother of all wars'.
Of course, this is symptomatic of the journalism of the times, but what actually are the chances of a conflict between Iran and the US?
A lot of people do think that a conflict is round the corner. The latest frenzy over US-Iran war was triggered by an exchange between Trump and Rouhani on Sunday. After the Iranian president cautioned the US against the mother of all wars, Trump made a nasty warning.
Few parallels in history
Trump's warning of consequences for Iran could be interpreted as a veiled threat of the use of atomic weapons. Trump said Iran could suffer consequences for which there are few parallels in history. That can only mean the use of nuclear bombs.
"To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE. WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!"
Trump's open threat resonated with equally bellicose language from Tehran earlier in the day -- President Rouhani had said a war with the US would be the "mother of all wars. Rouhani also warned Trump not to "play with the lion's tail, because you will regret it eternally."
Is Iran merely upping the ante? Is Trump merely taking a leaf out of the books of North Korean dictator Kim jong-Un who is wont to make tall threats against all and sundry?
Here's what some analysts and commentators say:
"We've seen a lot of very bellicose words from Mr. Trump in the past, but this tweet ... I think it takes it to a new level. This seems to be a little out of character and really a little alarming for many people ... This is really dangerous."
-- CNN military analyst Rick Francona.
"I fear the United States is on the verge of blundering into another unnecessary war with Iraq's next door neighbor Iran. The same warning signs are on the horizon, and I hope we will turn back from the foolish path we seem to be taking."
-- Tim Kaine wrote in The Atlantic
"What happens now that President Trump has announced America's withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Iran? War. Of course, nothing is certain in international affairs, and that's even more true with Mr. Impetuous sitting behind the Resolute Desk. But it's quite likely that the scuttling of the Obama administration's signature foreign policy achievement has set us on a path that will end in war with Iran."
-- Damon Linker, in The Week
"With John Bolton joining the White House as President Donald Trump's new national security adviser, risk of the U.S. going to war with Iran has increased to levels not seen since Dick Cheney was vice president."
--Trita Parsi - writing in HuffPost
"...With Kim out of the way and the empty accolades for Trump's peace-making collected, pushing Iran to the brink of war – and beyond – becomes that much easier."
-- Anshel Pfeffer -- in The Haaretz
