National Security Council Sought Plans To Strike Iran

The National Security Council last year asked the Pentagon to draw up plans for potential strikes against Iran, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The request came after militants launched a mortar attack on Sept. 6 on Baghdad's Green Zone, which houses many of the diplomatic facilities in Iraq. 

League of the Righteous, an Iran-backed group, claimed responsibility for the attack. There were no reported injuries.

A separate attack two days later occurred during anti-Iran protests in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. The missile landed near U.S. facilities, causing no injuries. No group claimed responsibility for that attack.

The Pentagon supplied the requested plans, but it was unclear if the proposal was provided to President Trump or if he was aware of it.

National Security Adviser John Bolton has long pushed for military action to overthrow the regime in Iran.

Trump ultimately accepted a lesser response proposed by then-Defense Secretary James Mattis.