US Approves $8.6bn Arms Sale to Middle East Allies

The US State Department has approved the sale of military equipment worth more than $8.6bn, including arms supplies to Israel, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

The announcement comes nine weeks into the US-Israeli war against Iran and more than three weeks after a fragile ceasefire took effect.

The decision coincides with deliberations by President Donald Trump over potential new attacks on Iran, Axios reported. One option under discussion is a “short and powerful” wave of strikes that could also target Iranian infrastructure.

Among the scenarios being considered is an operation to gain control over parts of the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to restore shipping, which has been severely disrupted. The waterway is critical to roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies.

Another scenario involves the deployment of special forces against stockpiles of enriched uranium. At the same time, Washington expects sustained pressure to make Iran more flexible in negotiations over its nuclear program.

(reuters)