Tensions in the Middle East are escalating as Iran warns the United States against deploying a second aircraft carrier strike group to the region. Reports suggest the USS George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group is preparing for deployment amid stalled nuclear negotiations with Tehran.
Satellite imagery has also raised new questions about activity at Iran’s nuclear facility in Isfahan, with analysts pointing to possible defensive preparations. Meanwhile, Hamas and Iran have coordinated positions during talks in Doha, warning of wider regional consequences if tensions escalate further.
In Turkey, political divisions spilled into parliament as lawmakers clashed over the appointment of a new justice minister.
Pankaj Mishra brings you the latest global developments on World News.
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#MiddleEast
#IranUS
#Geopolitics
#NuclearTensions
#GazaConflict
#TurkeyPolitics
#GlobalNews
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Satellite imagery has also raised new questions about activity at Iran’s nuclear facility in Isfahan, with analysts pointing to possible defensive preparations. Meanwhile, Hamas and Iran have coordinated positions during talks in Doha, warning of wider regional consequences if tensions escalate further.
In Turkey, political divisions spilled into parliament as lawmakers clashed over the appointment of a new justice minister.
Pankaj Mishra brings you the latest global developments on World News.
#WorldNews
#MiddleEast
#IranUS
#Geopolitics
#NuclearTensions
#GazaConflict
#TurkeyPolitics
#GlobalNews
#InternationalRelations
#OneIndiaNews
Also Read
‘Time Is Running Out’: Trump Signals Force as US Warships Move Toward Iran :: https://www.oneindia.com/international/time-is-running-out-trump-signals-force-as-us-warships-move-toward-iran-7981027.html?ref=DMDesc
“Finger On The Trigger”: Iran Warns US And Israel As American Fleet Heads Toward Region :: https://www.oneindia.com/international/finger-on-the-trigger-iran-warns-us-and-israel-as-american-fleet-heads-toward-region-7977743.html?ref=DMDesc
US Deploys Record Military Force Around Iran, More in Middle East Than Past Gulf Wars Combined :: https://www.oneindia.com/international/us-deploys-record-military-force-around-iran-more-in-middle-east-than-past-gulf-wars-combined-7975881.html?ref=DMDesc
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good evening. You're watching World News. I am Pankaj Mishra. The tensions are rising once again
00:05in the Middle East with military signaling, nuclear concerns and regional alliances all
00:11moving at the same time. From Washington's naval deployment to Tehran's warnings and from satellite
00:17intelligence to political unrest in Turkey, the geopolitical temperature is indeed rising.
00:23We begin with Iran's warning to the United States amid fragile nuclear negotiations.
00:32Iran has issued a strong warning to the United States, saying that if U.S. sends a second
00:38aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East, Tehran will see it as a direct step towards war.
00:45According to the regional sources aligned with Iranian media, additional U.S. military pressure
00:50during ongoing nuclear negotiations would signal what Tehran calls, quote-unquote,
00:56insincerity and false intentions, potentially undermining diplomacy rather than supporting it.
01:03Let's take a closer look.
01:04Iran has issued a strong warning, saying that if the United States sends a second aircraft carrier
01:13strike group to the Middle East, Tehran will see it as a direct step toward war.
01:19According to regional sources aligned with Iranian media, additional U.S. military pressure during
01:27ongoing nuclear negotiations would signal insincerity and false intentions, potentially undermining diplomacy
01:37rather than supporting it.
01:39This warning circulated widely on social platforms around February 11th and 12th, 2026, reflecting deep
01:50Iranian concern about U.S. buildup near its borders, even though it has not yet been released as an
01:58official statement by Tehran's foreign ministry or military leadership.
02:03Meanwhile, the United States has already positioned the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group in the
02:13Arabian Sea near Iran, part of a broader military posture aimed at deterring aggression and backing Washington's
02:22negotiating stance.
02:24The U.S. Pentagon is now preparing a second aircraft carrier strike group for possible deployment to the region,
02:32with the USS George H.W. Bush among the likely candidates.
02:38Officials say the deployment could happen within weeks if the President gives the go-ahead, though no formal order has
02:47yet been issued.
02:48If it proceeds, this would mark the first time in nearly a year that two U.S. carriers operate together
02:56in the Middle East,
02:58significantly enhancing American naval firepower and strategic options.
03:04President Donald Trump has publicly linked the possibility of a second carrier deployment to the fate of the nuclear talks.
03:13In television interviews, he said he is thinking about sending another strike group to increase leverage,
03:21while warning that if negotiations fail, the United States may have to take very tough actions,
03:29including possible military measures.
03:31Trump has emphasized that the goal remains a diplomatic deal, but that the U.S. is prepared to act if
03:40talks collapse.
03:42Diplomacy continues in parallel.
03:46Indirect talks between U.S. and Iranian representatives took place recently in Muscat, Oman,
03:53with both sides describing the discussions as cautious but productive.
03:59Iran has insisted that negotiations focus mainly on its nuclear program and reject broader demands,
04:07such as limits on ballistic missiles.
04:10This fundamental disagreement, combined with the military buildup on both sides,
04:16has kept tensions high and raised fears that missteps could spark a wider conflict.
04:23As of mid-February 2026, no second aircraft carrier has yet sailed to the Middle East,
04:31but the Pentagon remains on heightened alert, preparing forces and equipment amid competing pressures,
04:39military readiness on one hand and diplomacy on the other.
04:44With both sides watching closely, the risk of escalation or a breakthrough deal hangs in the balance.
04:55And lo and behold, the United States appears to be preparing exactly the move that Iran fears.
05:03The Pentagon has reportedly instructed a second aircraft carrier strike group to prepare for deployment to the Middle East
05:10as President Donald Trump increases military pressure on Tehran amid stalled nuclear negotiations.
05:16The USS George H. W. Bush carrier strike group, one of the U.S. Navy's most powerful formations,
05:24is expected to move toward the region, significantly increasing American naval presence and combat capability.
05:32Here's the report.
05:35The drums of war are beating louder in the Middle East.
05:39After positioning the USS Abraham Lincoln within potential strike range of Iran,
05:44President Donald Trump is now weighing the deployment of a second aircraft carrier,
05:49a move that would dramatically escalate America's military posture in the region.
05:54Reports suggest the USS George H. W. Bush could receive deployment orders within hours.
06:00Though the command has not yet been issued, Pentagon officials are said to be preparing for rapid action,
06:06signaling that Washington wants maximum leverage as tensions with Tehran intensify.
06:11Meanwhile, America's air power is also surging forward.
06:16B-52 Strata Fortress bombers, capable of carrying bunker-busting bombs,
06:21cruise missiles, and even nuclear payloads, have landed at Al-Udid Air Base in Qatar.
06:27These long-range strike aircraft are designed for precision operations against hardened targets.
06:33Their arrival follows weeks of naval buildup, including destroyers escorting the USS Abraham Lincoln.
06:39Satellite imagery has also revealed Patriot air defense batteries deployed in Jordan,
06:45reinforcing U.S. positions across the region.
06:48Adding to the escalation, F-35A stealth fighters from the Vermont Air National Guard
06:54have begun deploying from RAF Lakenheath in the U.K. to Jordan's Muwafak Salty Air Base.
07:00The advanced jets, capable of penetrating sophisticated air defenses, expand Washington's operational reach.
07:07Together with carrier-based aircraft and heavy bombers, the U.S. now has layered air defenses,
07:14strike platforms, and naval power edging closer to Iran's coastline,
07:19forming what analysts describe as a credible and immediate strike package.
07:23Yet amid the show of force, President Trump continues to speak of diplomacy.
07:28We can make a great deal with Iran, he said, while warning that Tehran miscalculated the last time
07:35and paid the price during strikes on its nuclear facilities.
07:38The message is twofold.
07:40Negotiations remain open, but the military option is real and rapidly assembling.
07:46With two carrier groups potentially converging and strategic bombers in place,
07:50the question now is whether this buildup is leverage for a deal
07:54or preparation for a confrontation that could reshape the region.
07:59New satellite imagery is now raising concerns about activity at one of Iran's key nuclear facilities.
08:06There have been claims that have emerged saying that the entrance to Iran's nuclear site in Isfahan
08:12is believed to house uranium enrichment equipment has been covered with soil.
08:18The U.S. think tank Institute for Science and International Security released satellite images
08:24showing multiple underground facility entrances sealed with no visible vehicle movement nearby.
08:30Analysts say the move could indicate defensive preparation or concealment of sensitive infrastructure.
08:37This report explains more.
08:41Iran has done something unexpected.
08:43It has buried the entrances to parts of its nuclear facility with dirt.
08:48Not concrete walls, not steel blast doors, dirt.
08:53But this simple move could make bombing and even special forces raids significantly harder.
08:58So what is Tehran preparing for, and is this a response to growing U.S. pressure?
09:04Let's break it down.
09:05New high-resolution satellite images show that Iran has completely sealed the tunnel entrances
09:11at its underground complex inside the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center.
09:15According to an analysis released this week,
09:18the entrances are now fully backfilled with large amounts of soil and earth.
09:22They're no longer even recognizable.
09:25The northern, middle, and southern tunnel access points all covered.
09:29Access blocked.
09:30On purpose.
09:31Why use dirt?
09:34It may sound low-tech, but it's actually strategic.
09:37Adding thick layers of earth over tunnel entrances can absorb and disperse shockwaves from bunker-busting bombs,
09:44reduce direct blast penetration, complicate precision targeting.
09:49In simple terms, it makes airstrikes less effective.
09:52And there's another reason.
09:54Burying entrances doesn't just protect against bombs, it also complicates infiltration.
09:59If special forces were ever tasked with entering the site, they wouldn't find open tunnel doors.
10:05They'd find tons of compacted soil.
10:07That means heavy excavation equipment and far greater risk of detection.
10:12It turns a fast, covert operation into a slow, highly visible one.
10:17Has Iran done this before?
10:21Yes, similar measures were observed during previous escalations, including during the 2025 Israel-Iran conflict and follow-up U.S.
10:29operations.
10:30Sites like Natanz and Fordow saw comparable defensive preparations.
10:34So this isn't random.
10:35It's a pattern.
10:36Iran appears to be preparing for the possibility of renewed strikes.
10:41So why now?
10:44Timing is critical.
10:46The U.S. has increased its military presence in the region.
10:49Carrier strike groups have been repositioned.
10:52Missile defense systems have been deployed.
10:54Diplomatic tensions over Iran's nuclear program remain high.
10:58Israel continues to signal it will not tolerate nuclear advancement.
11:02So the big question is, is Iran reacting to credible intelligence or simply preparing for worst-case scenarios?
11:09What's inside Esfahan?
11:14The Esfahan complex is believed to house sensitive nuclear materials, possibly enriched uranium stockpiles that survived earlier attacks.
11:23Access for international inspectors has been limited, which only adds to speculation.
11:28While the soil barrier is reversible, bulldozers could clear it if needed, the message is clear.
11:34Tehran is taking the threat seriously.
11:37So what does this really mean?
11:39Is this a defensive precaution in a tense region or a signal that Iran expects military action?
11:44By burying its own nuclear entrances, Iran has made bombing harder and infiltration far more complicated.
11:51Regional tensions are also playing out diplomatically.
11:54Hamas and Iran have coordinated positions on Gaza and broader regional escalation during talks in Doha.
12:01The Palestinian group reaffirmed commitment to the October 10 ceasefire despite continued Israeli violations, as claimed,
12:09while Iran reiterated its political support for the Palestinian cause.
12:13The Al-Qassam brigades warned that any attack on Iran could trigger a wider confrontation across the region,
12:22as Israeli analysts cautioned that Gaza's humanitarian crisis could fuel renewed militant recruitment.
12:30More in this report.
12:31A fiery warning from Iran's resistance allies, any strike on Tehran will be treated as an attack on the entire
12:39Islamic world.
12:40The Al-Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, declared that aggression against Iran would cross a red line far
12:47beyond one nation's borders.
12:49In a statement marking the 47th anniversary of Iran's Islamic revolution,
12:54spokesperson Abu Obidah pledged full solidarity with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Iranian people,
13:02framing any U.S. or Israeli action as a criminal infringement on a sovereign Islamic state.
13:09The message was unmistakable.
13:11Strike Iran, and the backlash will not be contained.
13:15Abu Obidah condemned what he called brute force, an interference in Iran's domestic affairs,
13:22accusing Washington and Tel Aviv of seeking revenge against a nation that has supported Palestinian resistance.
13:29The rhetoric signals a widening front, transforming a potential U.S.-Iran confrontation into a broader ideological battle.
13:38Hamas leaders reinforced that alignment during a high-level meeting in Doha with Ali Larajani,
13:44secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
13:48According to Hamas, the talks focused on Gaza and regional escalation,
13:54underscoring Tehran's central role in the axis of resistance, stretching from Lebanon to Yemen.
14:00Meanwhile, in Washington, President Donald Trump is balancing diplomacy with unmistakable threats.
14:07After a three-hour meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 11th,
14:12Trump insisted negotiations with Iran must continue, but warned that if no deal is reached,
14:19the United States would consider something very tough like last time.
14:23That reference to previous strikes has raised alarm across the region.
14:28Trump has spoken of a great deal with Tehran,
14:31yet he has also confirmed additional U.S. military assets are moving closer to Iranian waters.
14:38Netanyahu, meeting Trump for the seventh time since the president returned to office,
14:43emphasized Israel's security concerns.
14:45His office confirmed close coordination with Washington on Iran and Gaza, but offered few details.
14:52U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance reinforced the warning, stating there is another option on the table
14:58if Tehran refuses to curb its nuclear ambitions.
15:01Iran has signaled willingness to discuss limits on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief,
15:09but it has drawn a firm line around its ballistic missile program, calling it non-negotiable.
15:15As the Middle East sits on edge, on one side, Washington and Jerusalem warn of force if talks fail.
15:22On the other, Iran's resistance allies declare that any strike on Tehran would ignite a broader confrontation.
15:30With Gaza still burning and U.S. naval power building in the region, the stakes have never been higher.
15:36Diplomacy remains alive, but so does the threat of escalation
15:41that could draw multiple fronts into a single, dangerous conflict.
15:49And in Turkey, political tensions spilled into parliament.
15:54A heated confrontation broke out after lawmakers from the ruling party and the opposition
16:00clashed over the appointment of a new justice minister.
16:03Opposition members attempted to block Akin Gurlek, appointed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
16:10from taking his oath of office, accusing him of political bias.
16:14The scuffle forced a temporary suspension of the parliamentary session,
16:18highlighting deepening political divisions in the country.
16:21Take a look.
16:22A heated confrontation erupted in Turkey's parliament on Wednesday.
16:28Lawmakers from the ruling party and the opposition clashed violently over the appointment of a new justice minister,
16:35forcing a temporary suspension of the session.
16:37The scuffle began as opposition legislators tried to stop Akin Gurlek,
16:43recently appointed by President Recep Erdogan, from taking his oath of office,
16:49following a sweeping cabinet reshuffle.
16:52Gurlek's nomination to the powerful justice ministry has sparked fierce criticism,
16:57with opposition parties accusing him of political bias.
17:00Footage from the chamber shows a chaotic scene, lawmakers pushing and shoving,
17:06some even throwing punches, as tensions boiled over into violence.
17:12Opposition members had gathered near the podium to block Gurlek from proceeding with his swearing in.
17:18In response, members of Erdogan's AK party moved in to shield him,
17:23and the parliamentary speaker was forced to suspend proceedings for 15 minutes to restore order.
17:30After the break, Gurlek finally took his oath, surrounded by ruling party lawmakers.
17:36Gurlek previously served as Istanbul's chief public prosecutor,
17:41overseeing several high-profile cases involving members of the main opposition,
17:46the Republican People's Party, or CHP.
17:49Opposition leaders have long accused him of pursuing politically motivated prosecutions
17:55aimed at weakening government critics.
17:58They argue his elevation to justice minister threatens judicial independence,
18:03raising serious concerns about the future of the rule of law in Turkey.
18:08The confrontation comes amid a broader cabinet reshuffle,
18:12which also saw Mustafa Çiftçi, governor of Erzurum, appointed as interior minister.
18:18This reshuffle takes place against the backdrop of a sweeping anti-corruption campaign
18:23targeting municipalities run by opposition parties.
18:28Hundreds of CHP-affiliated officials have been arrested in recent years.
18:33Among the most prominent figures caught up in these investigations
18:36is Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, widely viewed as Erdogan's main political rival.
18:43He was arrested last year on corruption and organized crime allegations.
18:48In November, Gurlek filed a broad indictment against Imamoglu,
18:53accusing him of 142 separate offenses and seeking a combined prison sentence of over 2,000 years.
19:01The move drew widespread criticism both inside Turkey and abroad.
19:06This brawl in parliament is more than a physical clash.
19:10It reflects deeper political tensions and raises urgent questions
19:14about the future of judicial independence, democratic accountability,
19:18and the rule of law in Turkey.
19:21The stakes are high, and the country and the world is watching closely.
19:26That's all for now on World News.
19:28I'm Pankaj Mishra.
19:29Stay tuned with us for more global updates.
19:31Good night.
19:32I'm Pankaj Mishra.
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