Iran warns US confrontation could be ‘a prelude to a bigger war’: Analysis

By Al Jazeera English

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Iranian local reports and state media have confirmed that civilians, including children, were killed in US strikes near Sirik in southern Iran overnight on September 1-2,, with Tehran condemning the attack as a war crime. Researcher Ali Akbar Dareini of the Centre for Strategic Studies in Tehran told Al Jazeera that the attack "cannot be ignored" and that Iran has to respond. He said this is "a prelude to a bigger war", arguing that the US is combining sanctions, a naval blockade and military strikes in the hope of forcing Iran to surrender. Dareini said Iran finds it necessary to "escalate and raise the costs of war for Trump", adding that this is "the only viable option" for Iran at this point. He said Iran remains in firm control of the Strait of Hormuz, but that the strait will remain closed as long as the US military campaign continues. He stated: "If Iran cannot export oil or cannot import materials, no one in this region will do so." Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSu

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