Henwood said it was aimed at preserving domestic credibility following United States (US) air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend.

Speaking to media on Monday, Henwood said the missile attack on the Al-Udeid base, the largest US military installation in the Middle East, was preceded by an advance warning from Tehran, allowing the US ample time to evacuate key assets and avoid casualties.

"It's an off-ramp for Iran to save face in the context of what has happened, for the domestic audience mostly," Henwood explained.

“The Iranians informed America that they were going to launch the missiles at the base before the time. So they had ample time to make sure that there would be no casualties.”

According to Henwood, the US had already moved aircraft not protected in hardened shelters away from the site nearly ten days earlier, anticipating a possible response from Tehran.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--