US Defence Secretary says Iran could be planning additional attacks

US President Donald Trump, who faces a re-election campaign in 2020, accused Iran of orchestrating the violence.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said on Thursday there were indications Iran or forces it backs may be planning additional attacks, warning that the "game has changed" and it was possible the United States might have to take preemptive action to protect American lives.
"There are some indications out there that they may be planning additional attacks, that is nothing new ... we've seen this for two or three months now," Esper told reporters, without providing evidence or details about the US assessment.
"If that happens then we will act and by the way, if we get word of attacks or some type of indication, we will take preemptive action as well to protect American forces, to protect American lives."
Iranian-backed demonstrators hurled rocks at the US embassy in Baghdad during two days of protests, then withdrew on Wednesday after Washington dispatched extra troops.
US President Donald Trump, who faces a re-election campaign in 2020, accused Iran of orchestrating the violence. He threatened on Tuesday to retaliate against Iran but said later he did not want war.
Iran has rejected the accusation. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi criticised American officials in a statement, saying they have "the astounding audacity" to blame Iran for protests sparked by US air strikes.
The unrest outside the US embassy followed American strikes on Sunday against bases of the Tehran-backed Kataib Hezbollah group. Washington said the air strikes, which killed 25 people, were in retaliation for missile attacks that killed a US contractor in northern Iraq last week.
On Wednesday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned US attacks on Iranian-allied militias in Iraq, blaming the United States for violence in Iran's neighbour.
The protests marked a new turn in the shadow war between Washington and Tehran playing out across the Middle East. "The game has changed and we are prepared to do what is necessary to defend our personnel and our interests and our partners in the region," Esper said.

• MENA