Trump’s Iran threats: What to know as US ships arrive within the Center East

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Welcome to The Logoff: Extra US naval forces are arriving within the Center East as President Donald Trump threatens navy motion in opposition to Iran.

What’s occurring? An plane provider strike group arrived within the North Arabian Sea this week, becoming a member of 5 different US destroyers deployed all through the area, after Trump warned that “time is operating out” for the Iranian regime to make a deal.

The brand new provider group is “prepared, prepared, and in a position to quickly fulfill its mission, with velocity and violence, if needed,” Trump wrote in a social media publish.

What sort of deal? Trump reportedly has three calls for: no enriched uranium, limits on Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal, and no Iranian help for proxy forces within the Center East, similar to Hezbollah. Not included, notably, is any point out of Iran’s protest motion.

What’s the context? The Iranian regime is on shaky footing after mass protests started in late December in response to financial situations. Earlier this month, Trump advised protesters that “ HELP IS ON THE WAY .” It wasn’t — and Iranian safety forces have reportedly carried out a historic bloodbath in response to the protests, doubtlessly killing more than 30,000 . (Estimates fluctuate; verified demise tolls are far decrease, however nearly actually an undercount.)

Will strikes truly occur? As my colleague Josh Keating wrote earlier this month , there are many causes Trump might maintain again from placing Iran — first amongst them, it’s not all that clear what the US might accomplish by doing so. And it’s completely doable that the naval buildup is designated to intimidate and produce Iran to the desk, somewhat than take motion.

However after placing Iranian nuclear services final yr and efficiently capturing Venezuelan chief Nicolás Maduro this month, there’s purpose to imagine Trump is perhaps lethal critical.

And with that, it’s time to sign off…

Right here’s some excellent news: Polar bears in Svalbard, Norway, are doing higher than anticipated at the same time as sea ice continues to soften. The truth is, during the last 20 years, they’ve gotten more healthy, and their inhabitants has both remained secure or elevated. You may learn my colleague Benji Jones’s reporting here (and see a really cute photograph of two polar bear cubs with their mom).