The US has deployed a mysterious number of F-22 Raptor stealth fighters for the first time to the Middle East, amid growing fears of a clash with Iran. The number of F-22 Raptors remains unclear but photographers spotted at least a dozen of the radar-evading jets at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar for the first time ever. In response, a senior Iranian figure has threatened to annihilate Israel “with half an hour” if the US strikes Iran.
The deployment of the top-secret stealth fighter jets has put the Middle East is on alert amid rising tensions between Iran and the US.
Earlier today, the US Air Force confirmed the presence of the fighter jets – insisting they were deployed to “defend American forces and interests”.
This comes after Iran breached the limit on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium set under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the breach of the 300kg (660lb) cap on Monday.
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Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif later verified that the limit on its stockpile of uranium had been enriched to 3.67% concentration.
This is the level required for civilian nuclear power.
Iran originally stepped up production of enriched uranium, which can also be used in the production of nuclear bombs, in May.
In response, US President Donald Trump warned that the country was “playing with fire”.
Later on Monday, a senior Iranian politician claimed that any US strike on Tehran would be met with “obliteration”.
Mojtaba Zonnour, Chairman of Iranian Parliament’s National Security Commission, told the Al-Alam TV network that Israel would be destroyed within half an hour of any US strike.
He said: “If the US attacks us, only half an hour will remain of Israel’s lifespan.”
Mr Zonnour added that all 36 US military bases in the region are under Iran’s surveillance.