White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt has said Iran would be wise to make a deal, as the United States surges further military assets to the Middle East. Her statement came as part of a series of veiled threats from officials under US President Donald Trump, a day after US and Iranian representatives held a second round of indirect talks this month.
Direct contact between senior officials from the United States and Iran has broken down, according to reports, as tension between the two countries rises. Communications between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US Special Envoy Steve Wittkopf have been suspended, a senior Iranian official told the Reuters news agency on Wednesday. The report came amid President Donald Trump's threats to intervene as Iran clamps down on protests.
Britain's strategic defence review warns of unprecedented military threats from technology-driven warfare, particularly from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, urging increased defense budget commitments.