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Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration is staring down one other battle with Iran.
What’s taking place? The US is within the midst of its largest army 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 way in which. In different phrases, as my colleague Josh Keating reported final week, “It actually appears 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 assist for proxy forces all through the Center East in negotiations, that are — in concept — 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 prime 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? Roughly. The US naval buildup, and Trump’s threats relating to Iran’s nuclear program, have been ongoing for weeks. Earlier in January, Trump additionally promised to intervene on the facet of anti-regime protesters in Iran, however he by no means adopted via.
What’s the large image? We don’t but know what’s going to occur with Iran. However to this point, the administration is taking loads of steps that make it seem like Trump is on the point of launch strikes — comparable to evacuating some US diplomats from Lebanon on Monday — and never many which might be pointing towards a climb-down.
And with that, it’s time to sign off…
The 2026 Winter Olympics are over, however that doesn’t imply we’re executed with Olympics-themed Logoffs fairly but. You may nonetheless learn my colleague Alex Abad-Santos on the highlights and lowlights of a terrific Video games right here (it’s a present hyperlink). And in the event you’re in search of extra winter sports activities, keep tuned — the Paralympics begin subsequent week! Thanks for studying, and have a terrific night.
