US buildup within the Center East: Is Trump actually about to assault Iran?

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Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration is staring down one other battle with Iran.

What’s occurring? The US is within the midst of its largest navy buildup within the Center East for the reason that invasion of Iraq in 2003, with one plane provider group already on station and one other, led by the USS Gerald Ford, on the best way. In different phrases, as my colleague Josh Keating reported last week , “It actually seems to be like we’re about to bomb Iran once more.”

What's Trump making an attempt to perform? Trump’s core demand is a brand new nuclear deal to restrict Iran’s uranium enrichment and block its path to a possible nuclear weapon. The US has reportedly additionally tried to incorporate Iran’s ballistic missile program and its help for proxy forces all through the Center East in negotiations, that are — in principle — ongoing.

What’s the context? What to do about Iran has been a significant query of each of Trump’s presidencies. Throughout his first time period, he suspended a earlier US-Iran nuclear deal negotiated beneath the Obama administration, and later introduced the 2 international locations to the brink of a bigger battle by assassinating a high Iranian basic. Final yr, Trump additionally bombed three Iranian nuclear amenities; the White Home claimed on the time that the strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program.

Haven’t you written this article earlier than? More or less . The US naval buildup, and Trump’s threats concerning Iran’s nuclear program, have been ongoing for weeks. Earlier in January, Trump additionally promised to intervene on the aspect of anti-regime protesters in Iran, however he by no means adopted via.

What’s the massive image? We don’t but know what’s going to occur with Iran. However to date, the administration is taking a number of steps that make it appear to be Trump is on the point of launch strikes — comparable to evacuating some US diplomats from Lebanon on Monday — and never many which can be pointing towards a climb-down.

And with that, it’s time to log out…

The 2026 Winter Olympics are over, however that doesn’t imply we’re finished with Olympics-themed Logoffs fairly but. You may nonetheless learn my colleague Alex Abad-Santos on the highlights and lowlights of an ideal Video games here (it’s a present hyperlink). And should you’re on the lookout for extra winter sports activities, keep tuned — the Paralympics begin subsequent week! Thanks for studying, and have an ideal night.