World War 3: Will Iran go to war with US after it shot down US drone?

WORLD WAR 3 fears are growing after Iran shot down a US drone which it says flew over its territory just days after the US accused its foe of striking an oil tanker - will the US and Iran go to war?

Tensions between and the United States soared today after Tehran accused Washington of sending a “spy” drone into its territory which it subsequently downed. Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said the drone had crossed into the Kouhmobarak district near to the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The narrow sea passage, lying between the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman makes up one fifth of global oil journeys. IRGC commander General Hossein Salami threatened the directly, saying Iran “does not have any intention for war with any country, but we are ready for war”.

He added: “The downing of the American drone was a clear message to America.

“Our borders are Iran’s red line and we will react strongly against any aggression.


The United States called Iran’s versions of events “false”, saying its drone was shot down but it was in “international airspace” at the time.

World War 3: Donald Trump

World War 3: Tensions are heightened between Iran and the United States (Image: Getty)

The heightened tensions come off the back of warnings set by both countries against one another.

Will Iran go to war with US after its shot down US drone?

The United States’s response to the drone has focused on Iran’s “unprovoked attack” on its drone - but there has been no hint of retaliation or military talk.

Still, concern is rife about the two countries following US President administration blaming Iran for strategic attacks on oil tankers last week.

World War 3: Man next to tv screen of oil tanker

World War 3: Mike Pompeo accuses Iran of being behind recent oil tanker bombings (Image: Getty)

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stirred tensions by saying the US was “considering a full range of options” against Iran.

The Trump administration ramped up sanctions after a US military official said last month the Iranian threat against the US in the Middle East remains “imminent”.

In response, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani announced it would start stockpiling low-enriched uranium plain it in breach of the 2015 nuclear deal if the country was not supported by Europe financially.

But despite some US military deployments to the Middle East, many are not out of the norm.

World War 3: Donald Trump on campaign trail

World War 3: Donald Trump is campaigning for a second term as US president (Image: Getty)

World War 3: burning oil tanker

World War 3: Iran denies attacking this oil tanker in the East China Sea (Image: Getty)

Donald Trump has also said he does not want to go to war with Iran - his 2020 presidential campaign would not benefit from one so he is likely to try to avoid it.

Iran expert John Allen Gray also stated on The American Conservative that any escalation of military attack by Iran would be “limited”.

He wrote: “Iran is not capable of mounting a Pearl Harbour-style attack that aims to knock America out of the fight.

“Rather, it would seek to engage in a limited conflict, hitting America and its partners to highlight the danger of broader war.

“Then it would weather the response, which it would hope would aim at similarly narrow objectives.”