A U.S. naval powerhouse is barreling toward Iran, as President Trump ramps up pressure with threats of overwhelming force. In a Truth Social missive, he described the armada – spearheaded by the Abraham Lincoln carrier and bigger than the Venezuela fleet – as a force of ‘speed, strength, enthusiasm, and determination.’ The move underscores America’s frustration with deadlocked nuclear and missile talks.
Trump laid out the consequences bluntly: failure to deal means a sequel to Operation Midnight Hammer, the 2025 strikes that razed three Iranian nuclear facilities and eliminated top scientists. ‘Time is slipping away. Do a deal now, or face even greater devastation,’ he posted, leaving no doubt about his resolve.
Tehran fired back ferociously. A key advisor to Supreme Leader Khamenei warned that any U.S. strike would trigger instant reprisals, with Israel in the firing line. This bellicose stance follows crippling domestic protests against the regime, where reports claim thousands perished and were imprisoned during savage security responses.
Insider accounts in American press suggest the Pentagon is preparing contingencies: assassinations of protest-killing officials, bombings of nuclear sites, and hits on government buildings. Trump holds the final say, but bolstered forces in the Indian Ocean have expanded the menu of responses since month’s start.
The world braces as rhetoric hardens. Trump’s push for a ‘proper, equal deal’ clashes with Iran’s unyielding posture, potentially dragging Israel into the fray. Recent unrest has weakened Tehran’s grip internally, yet externally, it projects unbreakable defiance. With fleets converging and missiles primed, diplomatic windows are narrowing fast. History may judge this standoff as the spark for wider war.