00:00Hello and welcome. You're watching World News. I'm Pankaj Mishra.
00:04The Middle East stands on the edge of another geopolitical escalation.
00:08The United States is dramatically expanding its military footprint near Iran,
00:13even as nuclear negotiations continue behind closed doors.
00:17Two aircraft carrier strike groups, destroyers, surveillance aircraft and advanced fighter jets are being repositioned.
00:24Washington says diplomacy remains the priority.
00:27Tehran says pressure will not work.
00:30But the military signaling is unmistakable.
00:33We begin with America's largest naval deployment in the region in recent years.
00:41The United States is preparing to deploy the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Middle
00:49East,
00:49joining the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is already operating close to Iranian waters.
00:55This concentration of naval power comes as nuclear negotiations with Iran continue amid rising regional tensions.
01:03Nearly one-third of the U.S. Navy is engaged in Iran.
01:07Let's take a closer look.
01:11Reportedly, 15 destroyers, multiple submarines, and two aircraft carriers are now positioned for potential war.
01:21While ships are pulled away from the South China Sea, leaving Taiwan exposed.
01:30The U.S. has significantly increased its naval presence in the Middle East.
01:37At the center of this buildup is the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group,
01:43now operating in the CENTCOM region after being redirected from Indo-Pacific operations,
01:49including activity near the South China Sea.
01:53And now, the Navy's most advanced carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has also been ordered to the region.
02:01That creates a rare dual-carrier presence near Iran.
02:07Reports confirm around 15 guided missile destroyers across the region,
02:12two carrier strike groups either present or en route,
02:17nuclear-powered attack submarines capable of launching Tomahawk cruise missiles,
02:22additional air assets repositions to bases in Jordan.
02:29Social media claims suggest more than 600 Tomahawk missiles could be within reach of Iran
02:35if all assets were fully armed.
02:39That's serious firepower.
02:42But here's the key.
02:44There is no verified evidence that one-third of the entire U.S. Navy is concentrated solely against Iran.
02:53The U.S. Navy operates 11 carriers and dozens of destroyers and submarines worldwide.
02:59Two carrier groups represent a major show of force, but not one-third of the fleet.
03:06Some of these ships were previously operating in the Indo-Pacific.
03:10Pulling them west inevitably raises questions about Taiwan and China deterrence.
03:17Does this create a temporary vulnerability in the South China Sea?
03:21U.S. officials describe it as a strategic trade-off,
03:25shifting assets to where tensions are highest right now—Iran.
03:29This build-up comes as indirect nuclear negotiations resume in Geneva.
03:36President Donald Trump has warned of very bad consequences if diplomacy fails.
03:41We have to make a deal, otherwise it's going to be very traumatic, very traumatic.
03:46I don't want that to happen, but we have to make a deal.
03:49They should have made a deal the first time, and they got Midnight Hammer instead.
03:54And this will be very traumatic for Iran if they don't make a deal.
03:58Look, if they don't make a deal, then it'll be a different story.
04:02But we had a very good meeting yesterday with Bibi Netanyahu, and he understands.
04:09But it's ultimately up to me.
04:11If the deal isn't a very fair deal and a very good deal with Iran,
04:15then it's going to be, I think, a very difficult time for them in the back—I guess over the next
04:24month, something like that.
04:26Yeah, it shouldn't take—I mean, it should happen quickly.
04:28They should agree very quickly.
04:29The message appears clear.
04:31Diplomacy is on the table, but military readiness is fully activated.
04:36This is not necessarily a countdown to war.
04:39It is a calculated display of deterrence.
04:42Two carriers, dozens of escorts, submarines beneath the surface, hundreds of potential cruise missiles.
04:50But in a region where miscalculations happen fast, the sheer scale of hardware increases the stakes dramatically.
04:59So has the U.S. deployed one-third of its navy against Iran?
05:04No confirmed evidence supports that claim.
05:07Has Washington positioned one of the most powerful naval concentrations in the world within striking distance?
05:14Yes.
05:15And with nuclear talks hanging in the balance, the next move, diplomatic or military, could define the region's future.
05:24Even as diplomacy continues, military planning is accelerating.
05:29According to U.S. officials, the Pentagon is preparing for the possibility of weeks-long military operations against Iran if
05:38negotiations fail,
05:39a scenario that could trigger a far larger conflict than previous confrontations between the two countries.
05:46But a full-scale strike on Iran is far from simple—strategically, politically, and militarily.
05:54Here are the three main reasons why Washington may think twice.
06:02Tensions between Washington and Tehran are reaching a boiling point.
06:07War talk is growing louder.
06:09Aircraft carriers are converging, and military drills are underway in the Strait of Hormuz.
06:15Yet despite the rhetoric, launching an attack on Iran is far more complicated than it sounds.
06:21Diplomacy continues in Geneva, with Iran's foreign minister meeting international mediators,
06:28while the Revolutionary Guards conduct naval exercises designed to signal readiness.
06:33The question now confronting Washington and its allies is not just whether to strike,
06:39but whether they can do so without triggering a wider conflict.
06:43Iran's geographical factor.
06:46Geography alone gives Iran enormous strategic power.
06:50The country sits beside the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow maritime choke point through which
06:56roughly a fifth of the world's oil flows.
06:59In any conflict, Iran could attempt to close the passage using mines, anti-ship missiles,
07:06drones, or fast attack boats.
07:08Even temporary disruption could send global energy prices soaring,
07:12and threaten fragile economies worldwide.
07:15Regional states that depend on the Strait, from Saudi Arabia to Kuwait and the UAE,
07:21fear the economic shock that a war with Iran would unleash.
07:25Iran's missiles and drone arsenal.
07:28Beyond geography, Iran's military arsenal is another major deterrent.
07:33Tehran possesses the largest and most diverse missile stockpile in the Middle East,
07:38with thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles capable of reaching Israel and most U.S. bases in the region.
07:46Analysts say ranges extend up to 2,000 kilometers or more.
07:50During last year's conflict with Israel, Iran launched more than 500 missiles,
07:56with some penetrating advanced air defenses.
07:59Any U.S.-led stripe could therefore trigger immediate retaliation against bases housing over 40,000 American troops across the Gulf.
08:09Iran has also invested heavily in drones and emerging missile technologies,
08:14including maneuverable systems designed to evade interception.
08:18Swarm tactics, long-range unmanned aircraft,
08:22and layered missile attacks could overwhelm defensive systems if used in large numbers.
08:27Even a limited confrontation could quickly escalate if U.S. ships,
08:32regional oil facilities, or allied infrastructure are targeted.
08:36The sheer scale of Iran's strike capacity forces military planners to weigh the risks of escalation carefully.
08:44Fear of regional war.
08:46Perhaps the biggest complication lies in Iran's network of allies,
08:50groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and allied militias in Iraq have all signaled they would join any war
08:59against Iran.
09:00That means a single strike on Tehran could ignite multiple fronts,
09:05from Lebanon's border with Israel to Red Sea shipping lanes and U.S. installations in Iraq or Syria.
09:11Iran's leadership has warned that any attack would not remain limited,
09:16but would spread across the region, disrupting aviation, oil routes, and trade.
09:21For now, diplomacy remains alive.
09:24Oman is mediating talks while Iran signals willingness to discuss nuclear limits in exchange for sanctions relief.
09:32The United States, meanwhile, insists missiles and regional behavior must also be part of any agreement.
09:39Meanwhile, Iran is signaling readiness.
09:43Reports indicate Tehran has reinforced and concealed parts of its underground nuclear infrastructure,
09:49while the U.S. positions dual aircraft carriers and advanced strike capabilities nearby,
09:55including stealth fighter jets capable of bunker penetrating attacks.
09:59The military signaling on both sides is intensifying and the risk of escalation is rising.
10:06This next report looks at Iran's Khuram-Shahir missile signaling and regional military posture.
10:18Iran has recently shared a new video of one of its most powerful missiles into the global spotlight.
10:25Rather than whispering threats, Tehran chose to show them,
10:31unveiling its Khuram-Shahir-4 ballistic missile inside hardened underground facilities known colloquially as missile cities.
10:41These displays, broadcast briefly and then pulled by state media,
10:47highlight a weapon Tehran calls central to its defense posture.
10:51At the heart of this message is the Khuram-Shahir-4, also known as KBAR,
10:58one of Iran's most advanced medium-range ballistic missiles.
11:02This isn't just a parade exhibit, it's a strategic announcement, and here's why it matters.
11:09The Khuram-Shahir-4 is estimated to have a range of roughly 2,000 kilometers,
11:16placing U.S. military bases across the Gulf, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE well within reach,
11:24as well as Israel and other regional targets.
11:28It's capable of carrying a large warhead, roughly 1,500 kilograms,
11:34one of the most powerful payloads in Iran's ballistic arsenal.
11:38Iranian sources claim this missile is not only long-ranged, but also hypersonic and maneuverable,
11:46making interception by current defense systems more challenging.
11:50And because they're stored deep underground in extensive tunnel networks,
11:56these missiles are hard to eliminate preemptively, enhancing their deterrent value.
12:01This dramatic reveal comes as tensions with the United States are steadily rising,
12:08with both sides bolstering military postures across the region,
12:12including increased U.S. naval and air deployments.
12:16Iran's leaders have made clear that their missile capabilities are non-negotiable,
12:22even as indirect diplomatic discussions continue.
12:25Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakachi reiterated that Tehran will not cede its missile program in negotiations,
12:34and warned that any U.S. attack would be met with retaliation against U.S. bases across the region.
12:42To Iranian commanders, this isn't just defense, it's deterrence and messaging.
12:48By showing these missiles in their hardened silos and tunnels, Tehran is sending a clear signal.
12:56Its arsenal is resilient, survivable, and ready.
13:00But what does it mean for the wider region?
13:03For Iran's neighbors and the world, it highlights a stark reality.
13:08In a landscape marked by drones, warships, and negotiation tables,
13:14the threat of ballistic missiles looms large.
13:17Whether Iran's intent is to prevent conflict or to prepare for one,
13:23the endurance of these missiles, shielded beneath the earth yet capable of threatening distant targets,
13:30ensures they will be central to any future calculations involving Iran's security and regional stability.
13:38In today's Middle East, strength isn't just measured on the battlefield,
13:43it's showcased deep underground.
13:50And while Washington remains deeply engaged in crisis involving Iran and Venezuela,
13:56another global power is quietly watching and acting.
13:59China is positioning itself as a stabilizing economic partner in the Middle East,
14:04even as geopolitical tensions distract the United States from the Indo-Pacific, particularly Taiwan.
14:16A growing concern is emerging among strategic analysts that the escalating U.S. confrontation with Iran
14:24could be pulling Washington's attention away from its biggest long-term challenge, China and Taiwan.
14:32With carrier groups, bombers, and air defenses flowing into the Middle East,
14:38some experts fear the shift in military posture may reduce America's immediate presence in the Indo-Pacific.
14:46In geopolitics, timing matters, and rivals often look for moments when an opponent is distracted.
14:53The speculation is that Beijing could view the Iran crisis as a strategic opportunity.
15:00If U.S. naval assets and intelligence focus are stretched across the Gulf,
15:06China might intensify pressure on Taiwan through military exercises, air incursions, or maritime maneuvers to test regional resolve.
15:17There is no confirmed evidence of imminent action,
15:21but defense planners have long warned that major powers often probe rivals during periods of strategic distraction.
15:30Washington's recent deployments reflect that shift.
15:33The USS Gerald R. Ford is moving to join the USS Abraham Lincoln near Iran,
15:40reinforcing the U.S. posture amid fears of conflict.
15:44Additional aircraft, surveillance platforms, and missile defenses are also being repositioned toward the Gulf.
15:52While the U.S. maintains substantial forces in the Pacific,
15:56any redistribution of assets raises questions about response times and deterrence in East Asia.
16:03Diplomacy continues in parallel.
16:06Iranian officials are meeting international mediators as negotiations resume in Geneva,
16:12while Tehran conducts naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz to demonstrate readiness.
16:18Both sides insist they prefer a deal, yet both are preparing for the possibility of confrontation.
16:26This mix of diplomacy and deterrence is precisely the kind of environment that strategic rivals watch closely.
16:33For Beijing, the Middle East crisis highlights the strain of global commitments on American power.
16:40China has steadily expanded its naval presence, missile forces, and regional alliances in the Indo-Pacific.
16:48Any perception that Washington's attention is divided could embolden Chinese planners to increase pressure on Taiwan,
16:57not necessarily through invasion, but through incremental steps designed to shift the status quo.
17:03The question is not whether the U.S. can manage two crises at once, but whether adversaries believe it can.
17:11If tensions with Iran escalate into sustained operations, strategic competition in Asia could intensify in parallel.
17:20The Taiwan Strait has long been seen as the most dangerous flashpoint between major powers.
17:26And in a world of overlapping conflicts, even a distraction thousands of miles away can reshape the calculations of war
17:35and peace.
17:38The Middle East has often been the fault line of global power politics, but today the stakes appear unusually high.
17:47Military deployments are growing, diplomacy is fragile, and the world is watching whether deterrence holds or it fails.
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