Overview
- President Donald Trump said a “massive armada” led by the USS Abraham Lincoln is moving toward Iran and warned of an attack “far worse” than last year’s strikes if Tehran rejects a nuclear deal.
- The carrier strike group has entered the U.S. Central Command region, and reporting points to additional U.S. aircraft positioned nearby as officials weigh targeted precision options.
- Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said forces have their “fingers on the trigger” for an immediate response, while signaling conditional openness to a “fair and equitable” nuclear agreement free of coercion.
- Senior adviser Ali Shamkhani declared any U.S. action would be treated as the start of war with an “immediate, all‑out” response, as Iran-aligned groups including Kataib Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis threatened reprisals.
- Gulf governments have urged Washington to avoid strikes, with the UAE stating its territory and airspace will not be used for attacks, and no final U.S. authorization for military action has been confirmed.