There are growing concerns that a highly classified Australian intelligence facility might play a role in a potential U.S. military action against Iran.

President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran, stating that “time is running out” for Iranian leaders to negotiate a deal regarding their controversial nuclear program.

In response, the Pentagon has been ramping up its military presence in the Middle East. President Trump has announced that a significant American naval force, which he referred to as a “massive armada,” is heading toward Iran.

In Tehran, Iranian officials have asserted that their military is ready to “immediately and powerfully respond” to any U.S. military strikes.

According to Malcolm Davis, a defense expert from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, the Pine Gap facility—a joint U.S.-Australian signals intelligence base—could be instrumental in responding if Iran retaliates.

“Pine Gap’s role involves missile early warning … so if Iran responded by launching missiles against US forces, they would initially be detected by American satellites and relayed there,” he said.

The base, about 20km south-west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, could also be involved in planning potential US military operations.

Pine Gap is just a small component of the massive US military arsenal that Trump could bring to bear against Iran.

Other assets being deployed to the Middle East include the USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers, which can be used to launch attacks from the sea, into the region.

The US can deploy warplanes from air bases in the Middle East, including Qatar’s vast Al Udeid Air Base, which serves as the forward operating headquarters of the US military’s Central Command.

Davis says Iran’s lack of a modern and effective air force makes the country “pretty much wide open to attack”.

“It could hit back by striking at (US ally) Israel or US bases in the Middle East… but that would risk drawing Israel in and inviting more attacks.”

It remains unclear what Trump will decide about using force, though he laid down two red lines – the killing of peaceful demonstrators and the possible mass execution of detainees.

The protests saw at least 6221 people killed as Iran launched a bloody crackdown on the demonstrations, with many others feared dead, activists said on Wednesday.

– with Associated Press

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