US Airports, Entry Points, and Nuclear Power Plants Strengthen Security Measures After Iran's Missile Strike

Iran's missile strike on the bases in which US troops are deployed in Iraq caused a new wave of concern in the US transport infrastructure, as security concerns have risen everywhere, writes USA Today.

Фото: Depositphotos

For all of the United States, airports from New York to Chicago and Seattle are already on high alert, awaiting possible acts of violence in revenge for the assassination of General Kassem Soleimani on January 3 during a U.S. strike in Baghdad. Land entry points on US borders have also strengthened safety precautions.

On January 7, Iran fired at least a dozen rockets at two US military bases in Iraq, the Pentagon confirmed. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif subsequently wrote on Twitter that Iran is not seeking to escalate the conflict.

Iran’s missile attacks are unlikely to change the level of security measures in the United States, said Jill Kerlikovsk, who served as the Commissioner for Customs and Border Control of the United States from 2014 to 2017 in the administration of President Barack Obama.

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue to be on high alert, so I don't see much of a change,” said Kerlikowske, now a professor at Northeastern University. “I think CBP will just maintain a high level of vigilance.”

On the subject: The response to the assassination of a general: Iran attacked US military bases in Iraq

The Federal Aviation Administration said it had notified carriers in the United States of the suspension of their operations in the airspace over Iran, Iraq, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

“The FAA will continue to closely monitor developments in the Middle East,” the agency said. “We continue to coordinate with national security partners and share information with U.S. air carriers and foreign civil aviation authorities.”

Singapore Airlines said they redirected their flights from Europe to bypass Iranian airspace.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and, if necessary, will make appropriate adjustments to our routes,” the airline said.

Qantas Airways, which flies between the UK and Australia, said it will adjust its flight routes over Iran and Iraq “until further notice.” A longer route would mean that Qantas would have to carry fewer passengers and more fuel in order to stay in the air for an additional 40-50 minutes.

American Airlines said they have no flights in the region that would be affected by the FAA directive.

Delta Air Lines reported that none of its operations were affected by an FAA order.

Paris Air France said it has suspended all flights over the airspace of Iran and Iraq for an indefinite period.

Malaysia Airlines also made a statement that “due to recent events”, its aircraft will avoid Iranian airspace.

However, Qatar Airways reported that its flights to Iraq are operated as usual.

“The safety of our passengers and employees is of paramount importance and we continue to closely monitor developments in Iraq,” the airline said in a statement.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways said none of its flights operated to Iran or Iraq during the year.

The Lufthansa Group said it would fly bypassing Iranian and Iraqi airspace, although it stated that it planned to resume normal operation of its flights to Tehran and back on January 9.

“We are in constant contact with national and international authorities and will make daily decisions about the operation of flights and their organization,” the company said.

Although foreign airlines are not bound by the rules or directives of the FAA, they often follow its instructions.

Department of Homeland Security

On January 4, the Department of Homeland Security issued a National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin, which remains in effect. It says there is no indication of a "specific, credible threat" in the United States, but warns that "an attack on the country could occur with little or no warning."

The bulletin notes that the United States has designated Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism and tolerates a range of possible Iranian cyberattacks or terrorism by “homegrown violent extremists.”

“Iran maintains a powerful cyber program and has the potential to launch cyber attacks on the United States,” the bulletin said. “Iran is capable, at a minimum, of carrying out attacks with temporary destructive consequences on critical infrastructure in the United States.”

According to Kerlikovsk, passengers arriving in the United States who travel from Iran or in transit through Iran are likely to continue to undergo additional checks.

The head of the Washington-US-Islamic Relations Council said more than 60 Iranians and Iranian Americans were detained and interrogated at a border crossing in Blaine on the Canadian border over the weekend. Others were denied entry to the United States due to a lack of ability to detain them.

The detainees said their passports were confiscated and interrogated about political opinions and preferences, the board said in a written statement.

CBP officials have denied this claim.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal sent a letter to Acting Head of the Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf and Acting Commissioner of the CBP Mark Morgan on January 7 requesting information on reports that 200 Iranian Americans were re-screened and held for up to 12 hours in Blaine .

The letter, also sent to the director of the border checkpoint in Blaine, Kenneth Williams, asks the Trump administration to prepare any “directives, orders, directions, instructions” regarding the verification of persons of Iranian descent, or any changes in the verification procedures in response to the death of Suleimani.

On the subject: 13 Revenge Scenarios: Iran Threatens Americans with 'Historical Nightmare'

Community Service Precautions

US utilities are also vigilantly monitoring the security of the country's main infrastructure.

In recent years, cyber attacks on the electricity grid have been of particular concern. Researchers at the US Department of Energy consider such attacks a serious threat.

In Arizona, public service officials from Arizona Public Service Co. and the Salt River Project said they were taking the usual precautions.

“Due to the critical nature of our business, APS maintains ongoing heightened awareness of emerging security threats, including physical and cybersecurity threats,” APS spokeswoman Jenna Rowell said Monday. “In this case, the APS cybersecurity team is monitoring the situation with a particular focus on staying abreast of any threat intelligence that may be shared by federal agencies or industry and technology partners.”

Spokeswoman Scott Harelson said the SRP also liaises with government agencies to monitor security threats.

“While we cannot discuss specific steps, we can tell you that we have asked all of our security personnel to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity,” he said.

APS operates the largest US nuclear power plant in Palo Verde, 50 miles (80 km) west of downtown Phoenix.

Rowell said that work at the station is proceeding normally and all three units are working.

“We are at a standard level of security as staff remain vigilant at all times and report any suspicious activity in or around the station,” Rowell said.

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