The US Was to Send Aircraft Over Iranian Bases

The United States offered to mount aggressive air patrols over Revolutionary Guards bases during Iran's stand-off with Britain but was rebuffed by London, The Guardian newspaper reported in its Saturday edition. The Pentagon wanted to send combat aircraft over Iranian bases to show how serious the incident was.

The Guardian also quoted an unnamed Iranian official as saying that if the incident was between US and Iran it could have been the beginning of the war.