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Pentagon braces for Iranian response to Trump withdrawal from deal

The US president’s decision to reimpose sanctions is sparking concerns that Tehran could retaliate against US assets and allies.
An Iranian military truck carries surface-to-air missiles past a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a parade on the occasion of the country's annual army day on April 18, 2018, in Tehran.
President Hassan Rouhani said during the parade that Iran "does not intend any aggression" against its neighbours but will continue to produce all the weapons it needs for its defence. / AFP PHOTO / ATTA KENARE        (Photo credit should read ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump’s announcement today that he is pulling out of the nuclear deal with Iran is sparking concerns that Tehran could retaliate against US troops and allies in the Middle East.

As the White House prepares to reimpose sanctions lifted under the agreement, experts fear Iran could draw upon the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or proxy militias such as Hezbollah to target US forces in places such as Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan. Israel and US Gulf allies, which have long lobbied against the deal and applauded today’s decision, may also be at risk.

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