Pentagon Presented Trump with Options to Strike Iran, While Vance Tempers Expectations

The commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East presented Donald Trump with a set of action options regarding Iran – ranging from shows of force to strikes on selected targets – according to reports by Axios and media cited by Polish editorial offices. European articles (including L'Express and NZZ) emphasize that talks with Tehran have not yielded a breakthrough, and the space for diplomacy is rapidly shrinking. At the same time, signals of military preparations are emerging: some sources describe the readiness of U.S. naval forces, and Der Tagesspiegel notes the departure of the aircraft carrier "USS Gerald R. Ford" from the area near Crete. Bloomberg highlights the buildup of strike capabilities, pointing to the readiness of the Pentagon's first unit with kamikaze drones in case of operations against Iran. Since 1979, when the Islamic Revolution overthrew the Shah, U.S. relations with Iran have remained hostile, and disputes over influence in the Persian Gulf regularly lead to crises. From 2015 to 2018, the JCPOA nuclear agreement was a key point of reference, intended to limit Iran's nuclear program, but its future has become a subject of sharp disputes. The U.S. administration is simultaneously trying to control the narrative about escalation risk. Vice President J.D. Vance, in statements cited by American and German media, argued that Washington will not enter a multi-year conflict in the Middle East, which is meant to calm fears about a ground operation and prolonged occupation. „No chance the U.S. will be in a drawn-out war in the Middle East” — The political dispute in the U.S., however, is gaining significance: Axios describes actions by Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives, who want to force a vote on limiting the president's war powers. Reuters, in turn, reports that one of Trump's public claims about Iranian missiles has not been confirmed by U.S. intelligence services, which complicates the assessment of the premises for using force. In the background remain the conditions set for Tehran. Italian commentaries (Corriere della Sera) describe American demands including a complete halt to uranium enrichment and renunciation of ballistic missiles, which Iran is said to be rejecting. From the United Kingdom, meanwhile, comes a signal of support for dialogue channels: The Independent indicates that Prime Minister Keir Starmer declares support for diplomatic efforts, despite Washington's tough rhetoric.