The time to sit at the table and make a nuclear deal “is running out” and “the next attack will be much worse” than that of June, when the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites. Donald Trump relaunches his threat to Tehran on Truth as the United States builds enormous firepower in the Middle East.
The US “massive armada” headed towards the Middle East
«A massive Armada – the commander in chief warned – is heading towards Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm and determination. It is a larger fleet, led by the large aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, than the one sent to Venezuela.”
And “as with Venezuela, it is ready, willing and able to quickly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary”, the tycoon warned, hoping that Iran will soon “sit at the table” and “negotiate a fair and equitable agreement – no nuclear weapons – one that is beneficial to all parties”.
The most prudent line of Secretary of State Marco Rubio
In a Senate hearing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sounded more cautious, explaining that “what you’re seeing now is the ability to position resources in the Middle East to defend ourselves from what could be an Iranian threat against our personnel.”
Political pressures and Iran’s internal crisis
So a move in self-defense. But he assured that “Iran is weaker than ever”, incapable of dealing with a “collapsing economy”, which is the root of the protests which in his opinion will flare up again in the future, after the killing of “thousands of people”.
Even for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz “the days of the Islamic Republic are numbered”, because “a regime cannot maintain power only through pure violence and terror against its own population”.
The European Union evaluates new sanctions against Tehran
The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union could further weaken the regime, ready to approve new sanctions against Iran and to discuss – on Italy’s proposal – the inclusion of the Guardians of the Revolution in the list of terrorist organizations designated by the EU. The Islamic Republic responded defiantly to Trump’s threat.
Iran’s response: threats and openness to dialogue
The Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, states on X that the country’s armed forces have “their finger on the trigger to respond immediately and forcefully to any aggression”. And Tehran’s mission to the UN warned on X that Iran “is ready for dialogue based on respect and mutual interests but, if provoked, it will defend itself and respond like never before.”
The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Habibollah Sayyari, instead warned the United States against any “error of judgment”, saying that “they too would suffer damage”. The American bases in the region are in the sights.
Warnings from China and Russia and the risk of escalation
Even the Chinese ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, warned the Security Council against any “military adventurism” in Iran, hoping “that the United States and other interested parties will adopt further measures in favor of peace and stability in the Middle East and avoid exacerbating tensions and adding fuel to the fire”.
A warning that follows a similar one from the Kremlin, while Tehran has warned neighboring Arab countries from making bases available for possible US attacks.
US and allied military strengthening in the region
The US now has the Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group in the region, which boasts three destroyers and F-35C stealth warplanes, and six other warships.
The BBC has spotted F-15 fighter jets and dozens of cargo and supply planes arriving in the Middle East, while spy planes and drones have been observed on the flightradar24 tracking site near Iranian airspace.
Some of these planes are believed to have been carrying additional air defense systems, suggesting the US is taking measures to defend itself and protect its Gulf allies from retaliatory strikes, should Trump order an attack.
London also sent a squadron of Typhoon fighters to the region “to strengthen regional security”.
The military options on Trump’s table
There are several options on the tycoon’s table: hitting military sites, centers of power of the Pasdaran and the militias that repress the demonstrators, or attempting to behead the Iranian leadership, a more difficult and dangerous target.