Overview

• President Trump has reiterated his threat to bomb Iran if it does not agree to a new nuclear deal, intensifying the standoff over Tehran's nuclear program.
• Iran has positioned 'launch-ready missiles' capable of striking U.S. bases and warned of strong retaliation against any military action by the U.S. or Israel.
• A senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei stated that Iran may pursue nuclear weapons if attacked, despite currently adhering to a religious edict against them.
• The U.S. intelligence community maintains that Iran is not currently building a nuclear weapon, though concerns grow over its uranium enrichment and missile capabilities.
• Russia has cautioned that any U.S. strike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure could have catastrophic consequences for the region, urging diplomatic solutions.