This week, a change of command ceremony was held at CENTCOM in which U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke and said, "The area covered by the U.S. Central Command is where we protect waterways so that world trade can flow."

"This is where we fight terrorists who threaten our citizens. And this is where we work with our partners to deal with the instability of Iran and its emissaries," he added.

He continued: "That is why CENTCOM is a central focus in our security. Central in our readiness. And central in our mission."

In his speech, Austin focused on partnerships that CENTCOM maintains in the region.

On its role undermining Iran's stability in the region, he said: "Iran has expanded its nuclear program and is investing in military capabilities, especially ballistic missiles. It has cultivated a dangerous proxy. And it uses unmanned aerial systems to threaten us and our partners."

He pointed to political difficulties faced by US President Joe Biden's administration in "marketing" a return to a nuclear deal with Iran, in light of Iran's refusal to discuss its ballistic missile program and regional policy.

"The president was clear: the United States is committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. And we are still committed to a diplomatic outcome on the nuclear issue. "Regardless of the outcome of the nuclear talks, we will continue to work closely with our many partners to deal with the threats from Iran," Austin said.

He continued: "In the short term, we will increase intelligence sharing and strengthen regional air defense. And in the longer term, we will work together to address Iran's use of missiles and the distribution of unmanned aerial systems. We will continue to stand firm with our partners to hold Iran and its agents accountable."

U.S. Army General Michael "Eric" Corilla has taken command of CENTCOM.

Commenting during the ceremony, Corilla said: "The regions that make up CENTCOM: the Levant, the Middle East, South and Central Asia, are home to some of the most important and extraordinary scientific, artistic and social contributions to human history… and yet, they are home to violence, instability and conflict. There are areas of great suffering, human abuse and misery. "

He added that the central leadership must be involved in ensuring the continuation of world trade in the region, and must ensure that the threats there do not develop the ability to harm the American homeland.

Meanwhile, an American source said that negotiations between the US and Iran have now been suspended because nothing at this stage was acceptable to either side.

"At this point, nothing is mutually acceptable" was suggested, according to a U.S. source quoted by the Washington Post.

He explained that Tehran's demand from the US to remove the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a foreign terrorist organization, and the US refusal to do so, brought the negotiations for the revival of the nuclear deal with Iran to a halt.

The official said the decision was up to Biden.

"The president has not made a decision," the official said. "Politically, we know this is a step that is very difficult to do."