00:01The USS Gerald Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the world, docks in Crete on its
00:07way to the Middle East. It's one of at least two U.S. Navy carrier strike groups moving
00:12into position around the region as U.S.-Iran tensions threaten to boil over.
00:20Iran is also showing off its military prowess, and reportedly working behind the scenes to
00:25bulk up further with an expected purchase of Chinese supersonic anti-ship missiles.
00:33Switzerland is ready to host the two sides for talks Thursday, but there are stark differences
00:38in each's approach stemming from Iran's nuclear program. Tehran says it's prepared to compromise
00:44if the U.S. lifts sanctions and lets Iran pursue what it calls peaceful nuclear enrichment.
00:50But it's not just the nuclear issue. The U.S. also wants concessions on Iran's missile
00:55program and Tehran support for regional armed groups.
00:59There are two things the two sides do see eye to eye on, though. Diplomacy is the goal, and
01:05consequences if that fails.
01:08My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain, I will
01:14never allow the world's number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a
01:19nuclear weapon. Can't let that happen.
01:21And Iran says it's ready to hold its ground, pointing to a U.S. strike last year.
01:26While Iran chooses diplomacy, we are fully prepared to defend our sovereignty, territorial integrity,
01:33and people. As demonstrated in our response to the aggression of June 2025, we will exercise
01:40our inherent right to self-defense under the Charter of the United Nations if necessary.
01:46In Iran, tension is in the air. The country is still shaken weeks after security forces
01:51crushed nationwide anti-government protests, killing thousands of protesters and bringing
01:57threats of U.S. intervention. This scuffle Tuesday at a university in Tehran, a sign that
02:02backers and opponents of the government are still prepared to clash. And while life goes on,
02:10a growing mood of fatalism can be felt on the streets.
02:15I predict that if both sides really mean what they are saying, war will start.
02:21Going to war with America, Israel, and NATO will have very horrible and unpredictable consequences.
02:27That's why people are concerned. But what can we do? We can't leave our country. We have
02:33no choice but to adapt.
02:34While at the same time, some, still traumatized by the deadly crackdown on protesters, feel
02:39a sense of detachment.
02:42I'm not worried about war. How many more people do you think are going to die?
02:47With some of the most powerful U.S. firepower assembling nearby, and Iranian state TV showing
02:52warlike images like these, the stakes are high.
02:56Ryan Wu and John Van Trieste for Taiwan Plus.
03:02Ryan Wu and John Van Trieste for Taiwan
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