Washington is accelerating the deployment of defenses against potential Iranian missile attacks in the Gulf region to heed off any possible retaliation, The New York Times reported late Saturday. The move involves placing specialized ships off the Iranian coast and anti-missile systems in at least four Arab countries -- Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait -- the newspaper conveyed, citing administration and military officials.
Oman has also been approached, although no Patriot missiles have been deployed there yet, US officials told the Times, adding that the readiness of other Arab countries to accept the American defenses reflects growing unease in the region over Iran's ambitions and capabilities. "Our first goal is to deter the Iranians," a senior administration was quoted as saying. "A second is to reassure the Arab states, so they don't feel they have to go nuclear themselves. But there is certainly an element of calming the Israelis as well."
