Iran sending messages to militias not to move against American targets: Pence
   Date :10-Jan-2020

Iran sending messages to
 
By Lalit K Jha :
 
WASHINGTON,
 
VICE President Mike Pence has claimed that the US has received some “encouraging Intelligence” that Iran has asked its militia not to move against American targets or civilians after the assassination of a top commander of its powerful Revolutionary Guards. Pence’s remarks came after US President Donald Trump said in an address on Wednesday that no Americans were harmed in the attack by Iran on US bases in Iraq. Iran launched 22 ballistic missiles in a pre-dawn attack on Wednesday targeting at least two bases where US military and coalition forces are stationed in Iraq, which Tehran said was a “slap in the face” of America.
 
“We are receiving some encouraging intelligence that Iran is sending messages to those very same militias not to move against American targets or civilians. And we hope that that message continues to echo,” Pence told ‘CBS News’ in an interview on Wednesday night. Pence stood alongside President Trump when the latter addressed the nation from the White House wherein, he did not announce any fresh military action in response to Iran’s ballistic missiles hitting US military base in Iraq. In his first interview, Pence said that the US is safer today after the killing of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards General Qasem Soleimani, which was ordered by Trump.
 
“I think the American people can rest easier tonight thanks to the leadership that President Donald Trump provided and the extraordinary and courageous professionalism that our military demonstrated over the last several weeks. Despite missile attacks yesterday, again because of the professionalism— of our military personnel and their preparedness— there were no American casualties, no Iraqi casualties, and our information as of this afternoon continues to be that Iran is standing down,” he said. The Trump administration, he said, does not seek regime change in Iran, but wants to see the regime change its behaviour.