FRANCE 24The Middle East War is on its 19th day, the next phase could well be its most decisive. With a perceived split in US and Israeli strategy now emerging. If we can believe Donald Trump’s words. He says Israel bomned Iran’s gas field “without his knowledge.Then Trump, perhaps playing catch up, threatens to “blow up” – his phrase – Iran’s South Pars gasfield if Iran strikes Qatar. A move experts say would literally explode the region, sending a backdraft into Qatar. A remark that speaks loudly of a lack of understanding from Trump and his advisors… Iran is striking the Gulf allies of the United States because the US & Israel are bombing Iran… It’s like Catch 22.
And there’s another issue simmering away: what to do with Iran’s enriched uranium? Experts say this is the next big decision for US President Trump. Seizing Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium could well take the “largest special forces operation in history.” When US & Israeli jets bombed Iran’s nuclear faciilities last June, the regime was thought to have over 400 kg of 60% enriched uranium. This is near weapons grade. Weapons grade is enriched to 90%. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency half of Iran’s 60% enriched uranium is stored underground at Isfahan. US intelligence thinks there’s a “very narrow access point” through which this material could be retrieved. Tonight we discuss this next possible phase in the war, and what it could mean going forward.
